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HISTORY 



OF THE 



AMERICAN WAR OF 1812^ 



THK COMMENCEMENT, 

UNTIL ! 

THE FINAL TERMINATION THEREOF, it 

d 

ON THE 



>iEMORABLE EIGHTH OF JANUARY, 1815> i 

) 

AT 

I 

NEW ORLEANS. ; 

EMBELLISHED JVIfH A ST'JilKJSG LJKENESSOF CENERJL PJKS^ , 
AND SIX OfHER ENGRAVINGS, ', 

THIRD EDITION. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED BY WM. m'cARTY. 

T^RINTED BY >i'cARTY & DAVIS, S; W. CORNER OF ^IFTH AND 
CHERRY STREETS. 



1817, 



TjlSTUld OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO WIT: 

****** ^^ ^"^ Rememberrh^ that on the sixth day of 

* ^ * May, in the fortieth year of the Indefiendence of 

* ' '% the United States of America.^ A, D. 1816, WiL- 
****** £^^3j M'^CARfr^of the said district, hath deposited 

VI this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as 
/irojirietor, in the words fo II oiuing, to wit : 

« History of the American War, of eighteen hundred mid. 
" twelve, from the commencement until the final termination 
" thereof, on the memorable eighth of January, 1815, at J^^^. 
" Orleans: embellished with a striking likeness of generat Pi,y^^ 
*' and six other engravings^* 

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States 
entituled " An act for the encouragement of learning, by secur- 
ing the co/iies of mafis, charts, and books to the authors and pr^- 
jirietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned^* 
And also to the act entitled,''' An act supplementary to a?iact, 
entitled, « An act for the encouragement of learning, by secur- 
ing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and pro- 
prietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned,'* 
and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, en- 
i(ravin((, and etching historical and other prints." 

D. CALDWELL, 
Clerk of the District of Pennsylvania. 



a' 



y -' <-• 






If , 



II 



^ ■- CONTENTS. 



V, 



■'t: PAGE. 

Introduction, ^J 

Expedition of general Hull, a-nd inarch through the In- 
dian Country, 10 

Invasion of Canada, and reconnoitering on the Thames, 11 
Attack on the British advanced posts and Fall of Michil- 

limackinack, 12 

Policy of Britain and America towards the Indians, 13 

Skirmishing, and American supplies intercepted, - ±4* 

Battle of Maguago, ------ ij 

Canada evacuated, Detroit summoned, and surrender of 

the army, 16 

Massacre at Chicago, 18 

Character of the American navy, - - - - 19 
Cruize of the squadron under commodore Rodgers, and 

pursuit of the Belvidera, - - - - - 21 

Escape of the Constitution, 23 

Capture of the Guerriere, 21 

Cruize of the Essex, ------ 25 

Rodgers' second cruize, and tlie Argus, - - - 27 

Capture of the Macedonian, 27 

Capture of the Frolic and Wasp, - - - - 2S 

Affairs on the lakes, capture ol the Caledonia and Detroit, 32 

Battle of Queenstown, - - - - - - 33 

Smyth's abortive expedition, - - - - - 31 

Military ardour of the Western States, and fort Wayne 

relieved, - - - 36 

Indian expeditions, 36 

March through the wilderness to Foit Defiance, - 57 

Failure of Tupper's projected expedition, - - 40 

Expedition to the rapids of Miami, - - - 40 

Second expedition thither, and seige of Fort Harrison, 42 
Relief of that post, and expedition against the Peoria 
towns, --------44 

Destruction of the Indian towns on the Wabash, - 46 

Destruction of the Indian towns on the Mississin^wa, 47 

Expedition against the Florida Indians, - - - 47 



*^ CONTENT^. 

The Bonne Citoyenne challenged, ^ . - 5 i 
Capture and destruction of the Java, - - - 51 
Capture and destruction of the Peacock, - - 53 
Cruize of the Chesapeake, and her capture by the Shannon, 56 
Capture of the Argus, - - . - 62 
Capture of the Boxer, - - . . 63 
Cruize of the President and Congress, - - d-i 
Cruize of the Essex, - - - > G7 
American Privateers— The Rolla and the Comet, - 69 
The General Armstrong and the Decatur, - - 71 
Battle near the river Raisin, - - -72 
Battle of Frenchtown, - . - - 74 
Massacre of the prisoners, - - , - 75 
Construction of and siege of Fort Meigs, - - 76 
Skirmishing on the St. Lawrence, - - _ 77 
Capture of Ogdensburg and of York, . - 78 
(Capture of Fort George, - - . - 80 
Generals Chandler and Winder made prisoners, - 81 
Capture of Bcerstler's detachment, - - - S3 
Attack on Sackett*s Harbour, - - - 83 
Sodus burnt, and second attempt on Sackett's Harbour, 83 
Attack on Black Rock, - - - - 85 
Seige of Lower Sandusky, - - - - 86 
Norfolk threatened by the British squadron and bombard- 
ment of Lewistown, - - - - 88 
Capture of the Dolphin, &c. and action between the Fox 

and Adeline, - - _ . . 90 
Annapolis and Baltiniore threatened, - - 9t 
Burning of the villages of Havre de Grace, &c. - 91 
Attack on Craney Island, - - - - 91 
Outrages at Hampton, - - . - 92 
Decatur's squadron driven into New London, , - 9^ 
Attempt to blow up the Ramilies, - - - 94 
Explosion of a torpedo, - - - - .. 94" 
Capture of the British squadron on lake Erie, - 95 
Evacuation of Maiden aud Detroit, - - - loo 
Capture of the British army, - - - lOi 
Moderation of the conquerers, - - - 103 
Expedition to- the Peoria lake, - - - 105 
Inactivity of the army at Fort George, - - 106 
Chauncey's cruises on lake Ontario, - - - 106 
Engagement with the Royal George under Kingston bat- 
teries, - - - . - . 107 
Engagement with Yeo's squadron, - - - io9 
Veo chasid round the lake, - - ~ 110 



CONTENTS. 



I'hauncey's second engagement with Yeo, - - 111 

Capture of the British transports, . - - 113 

Movements on lake Champlain, - - - 114 

General Hampton invades Canada, - - 115 

Wilkinson moves down the St. Lawrenee, - - 116 

Battle of Williamsburgh, - - - - 117 

Hampton declines a junction, . - - 120 

The army moves into winter quarters, - - 120 

Evacuation of Fort George, - - - 121 

Fort Niagara taken, and the Niagara frontier laid waste, ±22 

Events on the vSouthern frontier, and seizure of Mobile, 123 

War with the Creek Indians, - - - 121? 

Capture of Fort Minis, - - - - 125 

Battle of Tallushatches, - - - - 126 

Battle of Talledega, . . - - 127 

Destruction of the Hillibee towns, - - 128 

Battle of Autossee, - - - - 129 

Expedition to the Tallapoosie river, - - 131 

Retaliation, ----- 131 

Correspondence on the emplovmeut of the Indians, - 133 

Remarks on the armj and navy, - - - 137 

Breaking up of the cantonments at French mills, and 

affair at La Cole mill, - - - - 139 

General Wilkinson suspended, , - - 140 

March of Brown's army to the Niagara, - - 140 

Holmes' expedition on the Thames, - - 140 

Situation of affairs on lake Ontario, - - 143 

Attack on the towns on the American margin of the lake, 143 

Capture of a British detachment at Sandy bay, - 145 

Burning of Long Point, _ - - - 147 

Capture of Fort Erie, and Battle of Chippewa plains, 148 

Battle of Bridgevvater, - - - - 151 

Attack upon Buffalo, - - - - 156 

Siege of Fort Erie, - - - - 157 

General assault of the works, , - - 158 

Capture of two schooners on lake Erie, - - 160 

Critical situation of the garrison in Fort Erie, - 160 

Brilliant sortie, - - - - - 161 

The British raise the siege, - - - 162 

Expedition under general Bissell, - - - 162 

M'Arthur's expedition towards Burlington Heights, 163 

Evacuation of Canada, - - - - 163 

British depredations in the Chesapeake, - - 165 

Movements of Barney's flotilla, - - - 165 

Measures for the defence of Baltimore and Washington, 167 



VI CONTENTS. 

Arrival of the expedition under general Ross, - - 168 

Lauding and movements of the British army, - - 168 

Battle of Bladensburg, 17q 

Capture of Washington, and destruction of i\ie public 

buildings, I74 

Retreat of the British, 176 

Fort Warburton blown up, 177 

Alexandria plundered, 177 

Preparations for cutting off the retreat of the plunderers, 178 
Bombardment of the batteries under commodores Porter 

and Perry, 179 

Commodore Rodgers* fire ships, - . - . 179 
Defeat and death of sir Peter Parker, - - - 1S2 
Dismissal of the secretary of war, - - - - 183 
Conduct of the British at Washington and Alexandria, 183 
Burning of Newark and the Moravian towns, - - 184< 
Effects resulting from the burning of Washington, in Eu- 
rope, and in the United States, - - - - 189 

Attack upon Baltiniore, 192 

Bombardment of Fort M'llenry, - - - - 194 

Retreat of the British, - 193 

Proclamation of sir George Prevost, - - - 196 

Repulse of the British at Otter Creek, - - - 197 

Expedition against Plattsburg, - - - - 197 

Capture of the British squadron on lake Champlain, - 200 

Attack on the American works near Plattsburg, - 201 

Retreat of Prevost, - 202 

Operations in New England, 203 

Bombardment of Stonington, 203 

Proclamation of neutrality towards Eastport, - - 204- 

Capture of that place, 205 

Capture of Castine, and destruction of the Adams frigate, 206 
Surrender of the country between the Penobscot and Pas- 

samaquoddy bay, 208 

Expedition against Michillimackinac, . - - 208 

Destruction of the establishment at St. Mary's, - 209 

Attack on Michillimackinac, - - - - - 210 

Destruction of the establishment at Nautauwasaga, - 211 
Capture of the American blockading force on lake Huron, 212 

State affairs in the Creek Territory, - - - 212 

Battle of Ecconachaca, 213 

Expedition of general Jackson, . . - . 214 

Attack Oil , general Floyd's camp, - - - - 218 

Battle of tiie Horse Shoe, 219 

Treaty of Peace with the Creeks, .... - 232 



CONTENTS. Vll 

Repulse of the British at Maiile, - - . 22s 

Procia-inatioii of colonel Nichols, - 1 ^ , 224< 

Destructioa of the settlement at Barrataria. - - 225 

Capture of Pensacoia, 326 

Capture of the An eiican gun-boats on lake Borgne, 227 

Military preparations at New Orleans, - . - 22S 

Landing of the British below the town, - - - 228 

Battle of the 23(1 of December, - - - - 229 

Description of the country around New Orleans, - 230 
Operations of the British previous to the 8th of January, 230 

Battle of New Orleans, - - - - - 231 

Bombardment of Fort St. Philip, - - - - 234 

Operations on the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, 234? 

Cruize of the Essex, 235 

Captain Porter's reception at Valparaiso, - - 237 

Destruction of the British commerce in the Pacific, - 237 

The Happah war, ...... 233 

Typee war, -----.- 239 

Madison's Island, 240 

Capture of the Essex, - - - - - - 240 

Sequel of the cruize, ^ - . - - . 246 

Result of the campaign ob the Ocean, - - - 247 

Destruction of the General Araistrong, ... 248 

l*eace between America and Great Britain, - - 250 

Its reception in the two countries, - - - 250 

Lesions taught by the w ar, . . . ^ > 252 



DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 

Plate I. Likeness of general Pike to face the title page. 

II. Constitution and Guerriere, to face page - 24f 

III. United States and Macedonian, to face page 27 

IV. Wasp and Frolic, to face page - - - 28 
V. Perry's victory, to face page - - - 95 

VI.' Battle of North Point, to face page - - 192 

VII. Battle of New Orleans, to face page . - - 381 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



AMERICAN WAR 



DURING the last thirty years the United States has bcei^ 
increasing' in population and wealth in a ratio unparalleled in 
history. Within that period, its numbers have been more than 
doubled, while its forests have been rapidly changing into cul- 
tivated fields, and flourishing towns and villages rising, as if 
by magic, in the midst of the wilderness. These blessings, 
however, have not been entirely unalloyed. The rapid increase 
of wealth had introduced luxury, with its accompanying evils, 
and had, especially in the larger cities, considerably sullied our 
republican simplicity of manners. Our extensive commerce, 
too, had embroiled us with several of the European powers, 
and finally involved us in war; while the thirst for speculation 
which it had excited in almost eveiy class, has undoubtedly 
had a demoralizing tendency, though not perhaps in the degree 
attributed to it by some politicians, who have placed solely to 
that account the want of public spirit and nationality, which 
has been charged to this country. The late war, whatever 
other evils it may have introduced, has certainly checked this 
evil. It has raised the character of the nation in the eyes of 
foreign powers, and erected an altar of national glory on which 
all local prejudices have been sacrificed, and politicians of 
every party have joined liand in hand to celebrate the triumphs 
of our country. 

A formal declaration of war against Great Britain, was pass- 
ed by congress on the 18th of June, 1812, which was proclaim- 
ed by the president on the following day. At this time the 
whole naval force of the United States amounted only to seven 
frigates, and a few sloops of war and other smaller vessels. 
The land forces were next to nothing. An army of 35,000 
men, it is true, were authorized by congress, and the president 
was empowered to call out 100,000 militia; but the latter spe- 
cies of force, though strong in defensive operation, in offensive 
is perhaps Avorse than nothing, and in a free country like this, 
wh'^re a comfortable subsistence is so readily procured, the 

B 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 



embodyii)g of a large regular force is far from being the work 
of a clay. Besides, some time is necessary to change the hab- 
tts of men from civil to military; men brought up to ease and 
indolence cannot at once execute the duties and meet the pe- 
rils of war. Considerable difficulties were experienced like- 
wise in finding officers fitted for command. Many of the re- 
volutionary characters were dead, and those who survived were 
almost too old for active service. In this state of things, can 
it be a subject of wonder that the raw forces of the United 
States, headed by officers who had never seen service, and ac- 
companied by rash militia, without subordination, should ex- 
perience some disasters in the commencement of their career? 
These disasters, however, have thrown no disgrace on the 
American name. On the contrary, the conduct of the Ame- 
rican armies has reflected honour on their country, and all their 
reverses have been occasioned either by the rashness of un- 
disciplined bravery, qr by the misconduct or inexperience of 
their leaders. 

From the disadvantages under which the army laboured, the 
Uttle navy of America was entirely free. The previous em- 
barrassments of commerce rendered it easy for our naval offi- 
cers to supply themselves with a sufficient number of seamen, 
and with men too who had all their lives been engaged in si- 
milar pursuits, and under the most rigorous discipline; for we 
apprehend that but little difference exists as to discipline and 
general habits between a merchantman and a ship of war. 

At the time of the declaration of war, general Hull, gover- 
nor of the territory of Michigan, was on his march through 
the Indian country in the state of Ohio, with an army of about 
JOOO men, destined for Detroit. In the preceding month of 
April the governor of Ohio had been ordered by the president 
to call out 1200 militia. This requisition was principally fill- 
ed up by volunteers who rendezvoused at Dayton on the 29tii 
oi April, and were shortly after placed under the command of 
Qjeneral Hull. In the beginning of June the detachment ad- 
vanced to Urbanna, where, on the tenth, they were joined by 
the 4th regiment of United States infantry. The following 
day they commenced their march through the wilderness. 

From Urbanna to the rapids of the Miami of the Lakes, the 
country belongs to the Indians, and is entirely destitute of 
roads. From the rapids to Detroit, along Lake Erie and De- 
troit river, are various settlements, principally of French Ca> 
.:!adian5. By the treaty of Greenville, concluded by general 
V'ayne wiih the Indians in 1795, a number of tracts, generally 

': miles square, were ceded to the United States, which fr/rm 



HISTORY OF -THE WAR. ^^ 

chains of posts joining the lakes with the Ohio by the course 
of the navigable rivers and the portages connecting them. By 
the treaty a free passage both by land and water was to be al- 
lowed to the people of the United States, along these chains of 
posts. Forts or block-houses have been erected and garri- 
soned in most of these ceded tracts since the declaration ot 
war, but at the time that the country was traversed by general 
Hull's detachment, no civilized being was to be seen between 
Urbanna and the Rapids, a distance of at least 120 miles. 

Towards the end of June the army arrived at the Rapidsj 
where a beautiful and romantic country suddenly opened to 
their view, enlivened by the signs of cultivation, and by the 
dwellings of their countrymen. Here a beam of joy animated 
every countenance, and gave fresh energy and fortitude to 
those who had undergone with difficulty the fatigues of a 
march at once gloomy and oppressive. On men who had just 
emerged from a dreary wilderness, unincumbered by a single 
hut reared by the hand of civilization, occupied by nought but 
Indians and beasts of prey, the change of scenery had a won- 
derful effect. 

After stopping here one day for refreshment, the army re- 
commenced their march, having previously loaded a suiaU 
schooner with the hospital stores and officers' baggage, which 
was dispatched to Detroit by water, under a guard of a lieuten- 
ant and thirty men. Before they reached Detroit the army ' 
were informed of the capture of the schooner, and of the de- 
claration of war. On the morning of the 5th of July, they ar- 
rived at Spring Wells, opposite Sandwich, within a few miles 
of Detroit, where they encamped. 

As general Hull had received, before his taking command 
of the army, discretionary powers to act offensively in case of 
war, the invasion of Canada was now determined on, and the 
utmost diligence was used in preparation for that event. The 
arms of the troops were repaired, a part of the ordnance found 
in the fort at Detroit was mounted, and every exertion was 
used by the officers to impress on the minds of the soldiery 
the necessity of strict discipline and obedience to orders. 

On the 12th of July the army crossed into Canada, with the 
exception of a small part of one company of militia, that re- 
fused to pass the river. They encamped at Sandwich, a little 
below Detroit, where a proclamation was issued by general 
Hull. The inhabitants fled in the utmost consternation on the 
approach of the army, but on receiving the proclamation, ma- 
ny of them returned to their homes. 

On the 14th a company of militia and a rifle corps, und' 



12 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

colonel M' Arthur were detached to reconnoitre the country. 
They penetrated to M'Gregor's mills, upon the the river La 
Tranche, or Thames, a short distance from the field of battle 
where the British army was captured fifteen months after- 
wards by general Harrison. On the 17th, they returned to 
camp, having collected a great quantity of provisions, and a 
number of blankets, besides a considerable quantity of ammu- 
nition and other military stores. 

That part of Upper Canada traversed by the detachment is 
described by one of the volunteers that composed it as ex- 
tremely fertile and beautiful. The fields of wheat and Indian 
corn were remarkably fine; but as every male capable of bear- 
ing arms had been drafted for the defence of the province^ 
vast quantities of the wheat remained ungathered. 

On the 16th, another reconnoitering party of 280 men, un- 
der colonel Cass, was dispatched in an opposite direction, 
towards Fort Maiden, where the British and Indians had con- 
centrated their forces. 

Maiden, or Amherstburgh, is situated near the junction of 
Detroit river with lake Erie, about thirteen miles south from 
the camp of general Hull at Sandwich. The road lies along 
the river, and crosses two creeks, and the river Aux Canards, 
the latter about four miles from Maiden. Cass's detachment 
found the British advanced posts in possession of abridge over 
the Aux Canards. After examining their position, the colonel 
posted a company of riflemen near the bridge, and forded the 
river about five miles above with the remainder of his force 
with the intention of surprising the British post. For that pur- 
pose the riflemen were instructed to commence firing, in or- 
der to^divcrt the attention of the enemy, as soon as they should 
perceive tiieir companions on the opposite side of the river. 
Unfortunately, however, being entirely destitute of guides, 
the detachment marched too near the bank of the river, and 
found their progress checked by a creek, which obliged them 
to make a circuit of two or three miles. This gave tlie enemy 
time to make their arrangements, and prepare for their de- 
fence. On being attacked, however, they retreated to Mai- 
den, and left the bridge in possession of the detachment; but 
as colonel Cass had received no orders to keep possession of 
any post, but had been sent merely to reconnoitre, this bridge, 
.which formed the principal obstruction between the American 
camp and Maiden, was abandoned, and the detachment return- 
ed to camp. 

Meanwhile the main body of the Americans remained inac- 
ve at Sandwich. Not a single cannon or mortar was on 



HISTORY OF THE WA^^- -• 

wheels suitable for the attack of Maiden; nor was it until the 
7th of August that two 24 pounders and three howilzcrs were 
prepared. Previous to that day, however, a great change had 
taken place in the prospects of the Americans. The news of 
the surprise and capture of the island and fort of Michilli- 
mackinac* by a combined force of British and Indians, which 
took place on the 17th of July, and reached the army on the 28th. 
The surrender of this post is stated by general Hull to have 
" opened the northern hive of Indians,'* and to have induced 
those who had hitherto been friendly to pass over to the British. 

The policy observed by the British and American govern- 
ments towards the Indians was of a diametrically opposite com- 
plexion. The American government did every thing in its 
power to civilize those unfortunate tribes who live within 
their limits, and to introduce among them the practice of agri- 
culture and the mechanic arts, with a view to wean them from 
the hunter state, a state which is becoming daily more pre- 
carious and unprofitable from the increase of the population 
of the country, and which renders them extremely dangerous 
neighbours. The policy of the British, on the contrary, is to 
keep them in their hunter state, by which they not only sup- 
ply a lucrative branch of trade, but furnish a powerful weapon 
in war. It is not to be wondered at, then, that the Indians, 
who delight in warfare, and ail of whose habits are averse 
from the pursuits of civilized life, should cling to the British, 
and should view the Americans, from their rapid increase of 
population and strength, with jealousy and dislike. From 
this cause Canada has ever been a thorn in the side of the 
United States. While in possession of the French, by whom 
it was originally settled, the most powerful efforts were made 
by the British and provincial troops to gain possession of the 
country. 

In the French v/ar of i756, after three wholly disastrous 
campaigns, and one of mingled disaster and success, the Ame- 
ricans, assisted by powerful British aid, at last succeeded in 



* MichUlimackinac^ or Makina^ is a small islatid situated m 
the entrance of the strait betivetn lakes Huron and Michigan, 
The fort is the most northern milziary fiost in the United States. 
Mere a great fair <was annually held^firevious to the war, ivhich 
zvas principally frequented by the Indian traders a7id the mer- 
chants of Montreal, for the purpose of exchanging the peltries 
of the uncivilized regions for the maniifactures cf Great Bri- 
tain, 

B 2 



\4, HISTORY OF THE ^VAR, 

uniting Canada to the British dominions, and thereby restoring 
peace to their harrassed frontiers. The same complaints 
against the possessors of Canada for exciting the Indians to 
hostility were urged in those days, that have been repeated 
against their successors the British, and by none was the use 
of this weapon more reprobated than by those who lately em- 
ployed it. Such is the different lights in which a subject ap- 
pears when it operates for or against usi 

By the fall of Michillimackinac, the junction of the Indians, 
and the reinforcements, both of militia and regulars, which the 
inactivity of the Americans enabled the British to collect for 
the defence of Maiden, it soon became evident that no effective 
measures towards the reduction of Canada could be undertak- 
en by this army. 

Several skirmishes happened between reconnoitering parties 
of the Americans and the Indians and British advanced posts 
towards the end of July and in the beginning of August, in 
which both sides claimed the victory. Most of these skirmish- 
es took place near the river Aux Canards. By these parties it 
vas discovered that the bridge over that river had been taken 
ip by the British, except the sleepers; that a battery was 
n-ected at one end of it; and that the Queen Charlotte, which 
carried eighteen 24 pounders, lay in the Detroit river, at the 
mouth of the Aux Canards, about a mile from the bridge, 
'th a gun-boat cruizing round her. 

In the mean time the Indians had crossed the Detroit, an<l 
cut off the communication of the American army with the 
state of Ohio, on which they depended for supplies. As a 
small reinforcement of volunteers, with a quaintity of provi- 
sions for the army, was daily expected by this route, a corps 
of 200 men was detached on the 4th of August to open the 
.ommunication. This detatchment fell into an ambuscade 
which was formed by the Indians at Brownstown, where they 
were totally defeated,, and returned to camp without effecting 
v.he object of their expedition. About the same time an ex- 
press arrived from general Hall, the American commander on 
the Niagara frontier, stating that there was no prospect of a 
co-operation from that quarter. 

It being indispensably necessary to open the communication 
with Ohio, general Hull resolved to suspend the operations 
against Maiden, and to concent)'ate the main force of the army 
at Detroit. Uuwilling, however, to abandon the inhabitants 
of Upper Canada, many of whom had accepted his protection 
under the proclamation, he established a fortress on the banks 
of the river, a little above Sandwich, where he left a garrison 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 1^ 

of 300 men. The remainder of the army recrossed the river 
and encamped at Detroit, on the evening of the 7th and the 
morning of the 8th of August. 

In pursuance of the object of opening the communication 
600 men M^ere immediately detached under lieutenant-colonel 
Miller. This detachment consisted principally of the regular 
troops, and a corps of artillerists, with one six pounder and a 
howitzer, a small body of cavalry, and detachments from the 
Ohio and Michigan volunteers. They marched from Detroit 
on the 8th of August, and on the 9th, about 4 P. M. the van 
guard was fired upon by an extensive line of British and In- 
dians at the lower part of Maguago, about 14 miles from De- 
troit. The van guard maintained their position in a most gal- 
lant manner, under a very heavy fire until the line was formed, 
when the whole except the rear guard, was brought into action. 
The enemy vyere formed behind a temporary breast work of 
logs, the Indians extending in a thick wood on their left. The 
Americans advanced till within a small distance of the ene- 
my, where they made a general discharge, and then proceed- 
ed with charged bayonets. The enemy maintained their po- 
sition till forced at the point of the bayonet, when they com- 
menced a retreat. They were pursued in the most vigorous 
manner, about two miles, when the pursuit was discontinued on 
account of the fatigue of the troops, the approach of evening, 
and the necessity of returning to take care of the wounded. — • 
The Indians in this battle were under the command of Tecum- 
seh, and are said to have fought with great obstinacy. 

The British regulars and volunteers in this action are stated 
in general HuiPs despatch to have amounted to 400, with a 
larger number of Indians: the Americans were 600 in number. 
The American loss was 18 killed and 64 wounded: the loss of 
the British was not ascertained. Four of their regulars were 
made prisoners, who stated that the commander, major Muir, 
and two subalterns were wounded, and that 15 were killed and 
wounded of the 4lst regiment; and as the militia and volun- 
teers were in the severest part of the action, their loss must 
have been much greater. About 40 Indians were found dead 
on the field; and Tecumseh, their leader, was slightly wounded; 
tlie number of wounded Indians was not ascertained. 

Nothing, however, but honour was gained by this victory. 
The communication was opened no farther than the points of 
their bayonets extended; and the necessary care of the sick and 
wounded, and a severe storm of rain, rendered their return to 
camp indispensably necessary. Boats had been sent from De- 
troit to transport the wounded thither by water, but the attempt 



i6 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

was found impracticable. The boats being descried from Mai 
den, the Hunter and Queen Charlotte- were despatched in pur- 
suit, and they were forced to convey the wounded from the 
boats into the woods, and there leave them until waggons could 
be procured from Detroit. 

It was now determined entirely to abandon Canada, and ac- 
cordingly the fort at Sandwich was evacuated and destroyed. 

Suspicions of treachery in the general, which had begun to 
arise immediately after the return of the army to Detroit had 
now become very prevalent among the troops. A letter was 
written to governor Meigs, of Ohio, by five of the principal of- 
ficers, begging him instantly to make every effort to open the 
communication, and informing him of their fe^^rs and suspi- 
cions. ^^ 

On the 1 4th of August another attempt was 4nade t^ pene- 
trate to the river Raisin, where it was understood the detach- 
ment from Ohio had arrived with the provisions. Colonels 
M' Arthur and Cass selected 400 of the most effective men, 
and set off by an upper route through the woods. The same 
day the British began to erect batteries opposite Detroit. 

On the t5th, genei'al Brock despatched two officers with a 
flag of truce, from Sandwich which had previously been taken 
possession of by the British, requiring the surrender of Fort 
Detroit to the arms of his Britannic majesty, and threatening 
that the Indians would be beyond his controul the moment the 
contest commenced. General Hull, in his answer, replied, 
that he was ready to meet any force which might be at his dis- 
posal, and any consequences which might result from his exer- 
tion of it. On the return of the flag of truce, the British com- 
menced a fire upon Detroit from their batteries, which was vi- 
gorously returned from the American fort. The British con- 
tinued to fire and throw shells till 10 o'clock that night, and at 
break of day the firing was renewed on both sides. 

Diiring the night the ships of war had moved up the river 
nearly as high as Detroit, and the British and Indians landed 
under cover of their guns, and were advancing towards the 
fort, when general Hull ordered a white flag to be hoisted, and 
the firing to be discontinued. The firing from the opposite 
side was immediately stopt, and a parley was hekl, when arti- 
cles of capitulation were agreed upon, by which fort Detroit, 
with all the troops, regulars as well as militia, with all the pub- 
lic stores, arms, and every thing else of a public nature, were 
surrendered to the British. The militia and volunteers were 
to be permitted to go home, on condition of not serving again 
till exchanged. The detachment with the provisions at the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 17 

river Raisin, and that under colonel M' Arthur, which had been 
sent to meet it, were included in the surrender. It was stipu- 
lated that private persons and property of every description 
should be respected. 

Shortly after this capitulation took place colonel M*Arthur's 
detachment returned to Detroit, their attempt to penetrate to 
the river Raisin having proved equally unsuccessful with the 
former ones. When they arrived within a mile^bf that place, 
they learnt its surrender, on which a council was held, when it 
was determined to send an officer to the fort with a flag of truce. 
In the evening he retured with two Bristish officers, who in- 
formed them that they were prisoners of war. The detachment 
then marclied to Detroit, where they stacked their arms on the 
citadel. 

The day following the surrender of the army, a British offi- 
cer arrived at the river Raisin and delivered to captain Brush, 
the comman^ei' of the detachment from Ohio, copies of the ca- 
pitulation, and of a letter from colonel M'Arthur, stating that 
his force was included in the surrender*. At first these papers 
were, considered forgeries, and the officer and his party were 
put into confinement; but their truth being confirmed by several 
soldies who had made their escape from the garrison at De- 
troit, a council of the officers was held to consider what was 
proper to be done. This council decided that general Hull had 
no right to capitulate for them and that they were not bound 
by his acts; and they accordingly concluded instantly to return 
to Ohio, and to carry with them all the public property that was 
possible. It was determined, however, that it would be impro- 
per to destroy those public stores that could not be carried off, 
as there were a number of American families who had taken 
refuge in the fort, and some soldiers who wer€ too sick to be 
removed, had to be left behind. It was likewise conceived, that 
the destruction of the stores might induce the enemy to deal 
more rigidly with the garrison at Detroit. These resolutions 
of the council were immediately carried into effect, and the de- 
tachment returned to the settlements. 

Twenty-five pieces of iron and 8 of brass ordnance fell into 
ihe hands of the British at Detroit, several of the latter being 
pieces which had been surrendered by Burgoyne on the same 
«lay, 35 years before, viz. the 16th of August 1777, Twenty- 
five hundred muskets and rifles, and a considerable quantity 
of ammunition likewise feil into their hands. 

The reasons stated by general Hall for this unfortunate sur- 
render, were the great inferiority of his force to that of the 
enemy, joined to the numerous band of Indians^ who were daily 



18 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

increasing in number; the hazardous situation in which the de- 
tachment under colonels M'Arthur and Cass was placed; and 
the impossibility of furnishing his army with the necessary sup- 
plies of provisions, military stores, clothing; and comforts for 
the sick, on pack horses through a wilderness of 200 miles, 
filled with hostile savages. The contest, he observes, could not 
have been sustained more than a day for the want of powder, 
and but a very few days for the want of provisions. " A large 
portion," continues he, " of the brave and gallant officers and 
mien I commanded, would cheerfully have contested until the 
last cartridge had been expended, and the bayonets worn to the 
sockets. I could not consent te the useless sacrifice of such 
brave men, when I knew it was impossible for me to sustain 
my situation.'* 

The disasters accompanying this expedition did not end here. 
On the change of prospects in general Hull's aritiy in Canada^ 
a messenger was despatched to Chicago, or fort Dearborn, si- 
tuated near the south-west corner of lake Michigan, with or- 
ders to captain Heald 'to-evacuate that post, and proceed with 
his command, which consisted of 66 men, to Detroit, leaving it 
to his discretion to dispose of the public property as he thought 
proper. The neighbouring Indians, hearing thj^t the goods in 
the factory were to be given to them, crowded into the fort 
from all quarters. On the 13th of August, captain Wells ar- 
rived from fort Wayne with 30 Miamies, whom he had brought 
by request of general Hull, for the purpose of escorting the 
garrison to Detroit. The following day all the goods in the 
factory store were delivered to the Indians. The surplus arms 
and ammunition, however, and the spirituous liquors were de- 
stroyed, lest the Indians should make a bad use of them if put 
into their possession. 

On the 1 5th the garrison commenced their march for Detroit, 
a part of the Miamies being detached in front, and the remain- 
der in the rear, as guards, under the direction of captain Wells. 
Their course lay along the beach of lake Michigan, the lake 
on their left, and a high sand bank on their right, distant about 
100 yards. They had not proceeded two miles before they 
were fired on by the Indians from behind the bank, and an ac- 
tion immediately commenced; but the Miamies giving the gar- 
rison no assistance, in fifteen minutes thirty-eight soldiers, two 
women, and twelve children were killed, and the Indians had 
gained possession of all their horses, provisions and baggage. 
The remainder were surrounded and made prisoners. They 
were then carried back to the fort, and distributed among the 
diff*erent tribes. Next morning the Indians burnt the fort, and 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 19 

carried off their prisoners. The number of Indian warriors in 
the action was between four and five hundred; their loss about 
fifteen. Captain Heald and his lady were carried to the mouth 
of the river St. Joseph, and being both badly wounded, were 
permitted to reside there with an Indian trader, whence they 
took an opportunity of going to Michillimackinac, where the 
captain surrendered himself to the British as a prisoner of 
war. A lieutenant, twenty-five non-commissioned officers and 
soldiers, and eleven women and children, were prisoners when 
the captain separated from them. 

By the disastrous issue of this unfortunate expedition of ge- 
neral Hull, besides the loss of men and arms at Detroit, a 
weak frontier of vast extent was exposed to the brutality of 
Indian warfare, which continued for twelve months to harass 
the western settlements, and the territory of Michigan was oc- 
cupied as a British province. 

From the disastrous scenes which followed the first efforts 
of our arms in the north-west, we turn with pleasure to record 
the glorious events that have taken place on the ocean. There 
our gallant tars, strong in spirit, though weak in number, in 
despite of the thousand ships of the self-styled mistress of the 
ocean, have triumphantly borne the flag of America through 
eveiy sea, from the rude and inclement shores of Greenland, 
to the rich and temperate regions of Chili and Peru. The 
enemy, with his immense disparity of force, has to boast of 
but few triumphs over us, whilst we can claim more than we 
have ships. 

But the courage of our tars, though it has achieved victories 
which have thrown a halo of glpry around our little navy, forms 
by no means the most conspicuous or lovely trait in their cha- 
racter. Their modesty and disinterestedness, their humanity 
and liberality to the conquered, have been such as uniformly to 
extort the grateful acknowledgments of the enemy that they 
have thus doubly vanquished, and have convinced the world, 
that the character of bravery which they have acquired, does 
not rest merely on the exertion of physical strength and tech- 
nical skill. 

Nor has the naval glory of America suffered by the few re- 
verses that have taken place. On no occasion has its honour 
been in the slightest degree tarnished, it has been equally sus- 
tained in defeat as in victory; and the clouds of adversity have 
served but to display its character in a new light, and to shew 
that it is adequate to every emergency. 

These remarks do not solely apply to national vessels. The 
commanders aud crews of our privateers have not been om*^ 



20 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

shone either in courage or magnanimity, as has been amply 
proved by their valorous deeds, and by the numerous public 
testimonies which have been born to their worth by the un- 
flattering tongue of those who have suffered by their enter- 
prize* 



* IVe are favoured with the following anecdote by a gentle- 
man who was fire sent when the circumstance related took filace<t 
he having been captured by the British squadron in a merchant 
vessel which sailed from England before the knowledge of the 
war. 

In July 1812, the firivateer Dolphin^ cafitain Endicot^ of Sa- 
lem, was captured by a British squadron under coinmodore 
Broke, and the captain and crew were put on board the Eolus, 
lord James Townsend. Endicot, during the short space of 
time that had elafised from the declaration of war to his cap- 
ture, had taken fifteen vessels, and by his enterprize, activity, 
and courage, had excited a considerable degree of asperity 
against him in the minds of the officers of the squadron, who 
had almost daily heard of his exploits. On the arrival of the 
crew on board the Eolus, they were treated with much haughti- 
ness, and suffered so7ne indignities. Captain Endicot, in parti- 
cular, was treated with such haughty reserve, that for several 
days not a word was exchanged with him. 

This treatment, however, was but of short duration. On 
hoard the Dolphin the British found more of their own country- 
men prisoners than there were men in the privateer, and on ex- 
amining them, they were equally surprised and mortified to hear 
the conduct of the Americans spoken of in the highest terms of 
approbation, to find that every thing had been done to render 
their situation comfortable, and that all 07i board had shared 
equally in every luxury that the vessel afforded. It was also 
discovered that in a former cruize Endicot had captured off 
JVova Scotia a vessel in which there was an old woman passen- 
ger, who had 800 dollars in cash on board, and who appeared in 
great distress at the prospect of losing her property. Endicot 
had with difficulty soothed her, as she could hardly be persuaded 
that her little all was not irrecoverably gone. The crew, on 
hearing of the woman^s fears, unanimously declared that not a 
cent of it should be touched. In the warmth of her gratitude 
for this liberality, she made the circumstance publicly known 
through the newspapers on her arrival in the United States. 

The British officers ashamed now of their past conduct, and 
mortified at being outdone in 7nagnanimity by a privateersman^ 



HISTOUY OV IHE WAR. 21 

A few (lays previous to the declaration of ^v>a^ the frigates 
United States and Congress, and the brig Argus, received or- 
ders to rendezvous off Sandy Hook. On their arrival there 
on the 2 1st of June, they were joined by the brig Hornet and the 
President, from New York, and the same day commodore 
Rodgers who commanded the squadron, having received offi- 
cial intelligence of the declaration of war, they put to sea iii 
search of a British convoy which had sailed from Jamaica in 
the preceding month. The following night information was 
received of the convoy from an American brig, which had 
passed them four days before, and the squadron crowded all 
sail in pursuit. 

Next morning, however, their course was altered by the ap- 
pearance of the British frigate Belvidera, to which they im- 
mediately gave chase. The pursuit continued from six in the 
morning until half past four in the afternoon, when the commo- 
dore's ship the President, having got within gun shot, com- 
menced a fire with the bow chase guns, at the spars and rig- 
ging of the Belvidera, in hopes of crippling the one or the 
other so far as to enable them to get along side. The Belvi- 
dera returned the fire of the President with her stern guns, 
and the firing was kept up without intermission for about ten 
minutes, when one of the President's chase guns burst, by 
which unfortunate accident sixteen m.enwere killed and woun- 
ded; among the wounded was commodore Rodgers, who had 
his leg fractured. By the bursting of the gun, and the explo- 
sion of the passing box, from which it was served wdth pow- 
der, both the main and forecastle decks were so much shat- 
tered as to prevent the use of a chase gun on that side for 
some time. Orders were therefore given to veer the ship 
and a broadside was fired in the hope of disabling the spars of 
the enemy. This, however, did not succeed; but considerable 
damage was done to the rigging and the stern. The utmost 
exertion was now used on board the President, by wetting the 



changed their conduct towards Endicot, and invited hi7n to mess 
in the gun room^ where his frank^ manhj behaviour quickly se- 
cured him in their highest respect. In speaking offirivateers he 
remarked to the British officers^ that they were under the same 
regulations as national vessels^ and that Jimerican privateering 
naturally differed from that of other nations^^ as it was generally 
considered in the United States as a national mode of carrying 
on the war, and hastetiing peace, btj operating on the enemy ir^ 
her most vulnerable poifit. 

C 



HISTOUY OF THE WAR. 

sails, Sec. to ^uin ground of her opponent, but without success 
A constant iiiing was kept up on both sides, the President at 
times giviiig. broadsides, until about seven o'clock, when the 
Belvidcra, having cut away her anchors, started a number of 
Aviitcr casks, and thrown overboard her boats and every thing 
that could be spared, began to gain ground, and to get out of 
the reach of the President's shot. The chase, however, was 
continued with all the sail our squadron could set, until about 
})alf past eleven, when it was given up as hopeless. Cofisider- 
able injury was done to both vessels in this action. One of 
the first shots fired by the President killed one man and wound- 
ed six; the captain was severely wounded in the thigh by the 
breaking of the breeching of a carronade. On board the Pre- 
sident there were three killed and nineteen wounded, the grea- 
ter part by the bursting of the gun. 

The squadron now resumed their course in pursuit of the 
convoy from Jamaica, but did not receive further intelligence 
of it until the 29th of June, when an American schooner was 
spoken on the western edge of the banks of Newfoundland, 
that had passed them two days before. On the 1st of July they 
fell in with quantities of cocoa-nut shells, orange peels, &c. 
which indicated that the convoy were not far distant. On the 
9th they captured the British privateer Dolphin, which had 
passed the convoy the preceding evening. The pursuit Jwas 
continued, but without success, until the 13th, the squadron 
being then within eighteen or twenty hours sail of the British 
channel. 

From this they steered for the island of Madeira, and thence 
passing the Azores stood for Newfoundland, and from the lat- 
"ier place by the way of cape Sable to Boston, where they ar- 
rived on the 31st of August. 

During a great part of this cruize the weather was such as 
to obscure every distant object: for several days the fog was so 
thick as to prevent the vessels of the squadron from seeing 
each other, even at cable's length asunder; in consequence of 
which although they chased every vessel they saw, and brought 
to every thing they chased, with the exception of four vessels, 
•;]iey made only seven captures and one recapture. The 
r ruize, however, was not barren of benefit to the country, as 
the knowledge of the squadron's being at sea obliged the ene- 
my to concentrate a considerable portion of his most active 
force, and thereby prevented his capturing a large amount of 
American property that would otherwise have fallen a sacri- 
fice. The vessels that escaped were, the Belvidera, another 
British frigate, by night, and two American privateers, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. -o 

The Constitution frigate^ under the command of captain 
Hull, had received orders to join the squadron, and for that pur- 
pose sailed from Annapolis on the 5th of July. On the I7t'i, 
off Eg^g Harbour, four ships, apparently of war, were disco- 
vered from the mast-head to the northward, and in shore of the 
Constitution, and, in the belief that it was the Anurican seiuad- 
ron waiting her arrival, all sailvvas made in chase of them. 
At four in the afternoon another ship was seen from the mast- 
head, to the north-east, standing for the Constitution with all 
sail set, the wind at this time being very light, which course 
she continued till sun-set, but was still too far off to distinguish 
signals. At ten in the evening, being then within six or eight 
miles of the strange sail, the private signal was made by the 
Constitution, and kept up nearly an hour; it not being answer- 
ed, it was concluded that she and the ships in shore were ene- 
my's vessels. Captain Hull immediately laid his vessel in the 
same course with the others, having determined to lie off till 
day-light to see what they were. 

Next morning, about day-light, two frigates were seen from 
the Constitution, under her lee, one frigate four or five miles, 
and a line of battle ship, a frigate, a brig, and a schooner ten 
or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase, and coming up fast, 
they having a fine breeze, and it being nearly calm wliere the 
Constitution was. After sunrise, finding there was but little 
chance for escape, being then v/ithin five miles of three lieavy 
frigates, the Constitution was cleared for action, and two guns 
were run out at the cabin windows, and two at the ports on the 
quarter deck. At eight, four of the ships were i early within 
gun-shot, some of them having six or eight boats ahead tow- 
ing, with all their oars and sweeps out. 

In this perilous situation, a new expedient vras determined 
on, which was the liappy means of saving the vessel. Being 
in only twenty- four fathoms water, boats were sent out ahead 
v/ith anchors, and the ship warped up to them, by which they 
soon began to get ahead of the enemy. They, however, adopt- 
ed the same plan, and all the boats fiom the furthermost ships 
were sent to assist those nearc t. For two days and nights 
were they chased by the squadron, sometimes v/ith light 
winds, at others warping, and towing in a calm, seldom much 
beyond gun-shot distance. On the morning of the 20th only 
three of the squadron could be seen from the mast-head, the 
nearest about 12 miles distant directly astern. Having now 
a light breeze, all hands were employed in wetting the sails 
from the royals down, and the enemy were soon left far behind. 
The Constitution, not being able to find the Un;ted States 



24 HISTORY OF THF- WAR. 

squadron, now bore away for Boston, where she shortly aitc; 
arrived. 

On the 2d of September the Constitution again put to sea, 
and on the 1 9th a vessel was discovered and chased, which at 
half-past 3 P. M. was made out to be a frigate. The ship was 
immediately cleared for action, and the chase, which proved 
to be the Guerriere, backed her main top-sail, waiting for her 
to come down. As soon as the Constitution was ready she 
bore down with the intention of immediately coming to close 
action; but on approaching within gun-shot, the Guerriere gave 
a broadside, and filled away and wore, giving a broadside on 
the other tack, but without effect, her shot falling short. Both 
vessels continued to manoeuvre for three quarters of an hour, 
the Guerriere for the purpose of gaining a raking position, the 
Constitution for the purpose of closing and avoiding bein^ 
raked. At last they dosed and kept up a heavy fire for six- 
teen minutes, when the mizen-mast of the Guerriere fell over- 
board, and brought the ship up in the wind, which enabled the 
Constitution to take a raking position, and to sweep her ene- 
my's deck by her grape-shot and musquetry. The fire was 
kept up with equal warmth for fifteen minutes longer, when, 
by the falling of the Guerriere's main and fore-mast, she became 
an uninanageable wreck. On seeing this tlse Constitution 
cased firing, but shortly after, perceiving the colours still fly- 
iig, she took a raking position within pistol shot, when they 
were immediately hauled <lown. " 

Early next morning a sail was discovered and all was got 
V4^ady for action, but she shortly after stood off again. At day- 
light the lieutenant on board the prize hailed the Constitution, 
and informed that she was in a sinking condition, and had 
four feet water in her hold. Accordingly the prisoners were 
removed, and at 3 P. M. she was set on fire, and shortly after 
blew up. 

Captain Hull in his official letter states, that all his crew 
fought with the utmost bravery: from the smallest boy in the 
ship to the oldest seamen, not a look of fear was seen. They 
all went into action giving three cheers, and requesting to be 
• aid close along side of the enemy. Their humanity was 
equal to their bravery. Captain Dacres in his official letter, 
confesses their conduct to have been " that of a brave enemy, 
ihe greatest care being taken to prevent the men losing the 
slightest article, and the greatest attention being paid to the 
wounded." 

On board the Constitution there were seven killed and seven 
woupded; on board the Guerriere fifteen were killed; and six- 



HiSTORY OF TilK WAR. ^J 

ty three wound<id, and twenty-four missinp:; the latter were 
stated by one of the officers to be away in prizes. 

The Constitution rated 44 guns and carried 56; her comple- 
ment of men is 450. The Guerriere rated 38 guns and car- 
ried 49, the odd gun shifting, which makes it equal to two;, 
she had on board about vSOO men. 

Meantime the other vessels of our little navy were not idle 
The Essex sailed from New York on the 3d of July, and shojt- 
iy after fell in with a fleet of transports, under convoy of a fri- 
gate and two bomb ketches, froii^i Jamaica for Halifax, with 
troops. The Essex kept at a distance until night, when she 
cut off a brig with 150 soldiers on board, which was ransomed 
for a bill of exchange on London for 14,000 (tollars. The 
men were disarmed, an exchange receipt taken for then, and 
they severally took an oath not to serve till exchanged. Cap- 
tain Porter, in his letter to the secretary of the navy, lamented 
th|it he had not with him a sloop of war, that the ships of the 
convoy might have been kept in play while he engaged the 
frigate. " Had this been the case," says he, " instead of tak- 
ing only 200 prisoners, I have not a doubt that we should have 
made prisoners of the whole of the troops, as well as the fri- 
gates' and transports' crews, which v.ouid have exceeded 2000 
men." 

The following day the Essex captured the brig Lamprey, 
from Jamaica. Intelligence was received from her that the 
Thetis frigate, with specie and a large convoy for England, was 
to have sailed about the 26th of June, and that several running- 
ships were on the departure. Every exertion was therefore 
made to get off St. Augustine in time to fall in with them, but 
without effect, as fresh gaies prevailed from the soutli-v.'est, 
which increased until the 19th of July, when, by the violence 
of the tempest, they were compelled to run before the wind. 

On the 13th of August, the Essex captured the Alert sloop 
of war, after an action of eight minutes. The Alert, which 
was said to have been sent out for the purpose of taking the 
Hornet, ran down on the weather quarter of the Essex, and 
gave three cheers at the commencement of the action. When 
she struck her colours she had only three men wounded, but 
she had seven feet water in her hold, and was mucli cut tc 
pieces. The Essex received not the sliglitest injury. 

Being much embarrassed with his prisoners, who amounted, 
including those of the Aiert, to 500, captain Porter concluded 
an arrangement with the captain of the Alert, for despatching 
that vessel as a cartel to. carry the prisoners to a British i^ori 
Her guns were accordingly thrown overboard, a^nd she wasen^ 

r "2 



26 lUSTOHY OF THE WAR. 

trusted to the command of a lieutenant of the Essex, with 
orders to proceed to St. John's, Newfoundland. The com- 
mander of the British naval forces at that place, in a letter to 
the American secretary of the navy, strongly protests against 
this practice of immediately despatching captured vessels as 
cartels; "nevertheless, as a proof of respect for the liberality 
with which the captain of the Essex has acted, in more than 
once instance, towards the British subjects who have fallen into 
his hands," and through a desire to fulfil the engagements en« 
tered into by a British officer, he consented to the proposed 
exchange. The Alert is now in the American service. 

On the afternoon of the 30th of August, a British frigate 
was perceived standing for the Essex under a press of sail. — 
Porter was instantly prepared for action, and stood towards the 
frigate, and at the approach of night a light was hoisted for the 
purpose of preventing a separation. At nine a signal was made 
by the enemy consisting of two flashes and one blue light, ap- 
parently about four miles distant. The Essex continued to 
stand for the point where the signal was seen until midnight, 
when, not getting sight of the enemy, she hove too until day- 
light, on the presumption that the other had done the same, or 
at least would keep in the neighbourhood; but to the surprise 
and mortification of all on board, in the morning the coast was 
clear. 

On the 4th of September, off the tail of St. George's bank, 
two ships of war were discovered to the southward, and a bri^ 
CO the northward, the latter in chase of an American merchant- 
man. The Essex gave chase to the brig, which attempted to 
pass her and join the other two, but was prevented, and com- 
pelled to stand lo the north. She, however, escaped, the wind 
being light, by means of her sweeps. On the Essex showing 
her colours to the American vessel, the vessels to the south- 
ward fired signal guns, and made all sail in chase of her, and 
by 4 p. M. had gained her wake, and were coming up very fast. 
Calculating on escaping by some manoeuvre in the night, cap- 
tain Porter hoisted American colours and fired a gun to wind- 
ward. The ships still continued to gain on him, and the 
largest being considerably to windward of the other, and only 
five miles astern, captain Porter determined to heave about as 
soon as it grew dark, and, in the event of not being able to pass 
him, to fire a broadside and lay him onboard, a resolution that 
was received with three cheers when proposed to the crew. — 
At 20 minutes past seven she was accordingly hove about, but 
saw no more of the enemy; a circujustance which seems the 
more extpaordinary, as a pistol was fired by accident on board 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. iiT 

the Essex, at the moment when she must have been at the 
shortest distance from them. On the 7th of September the 
Essex arrived in the Delaware. 

On the 8th of October, the President frigate, in company 
with the United States, Congress, and Argus, sailed from Bos- 
ton on a cruize. On the 13th the United States and Argus 
parted company with the squadron in a gale of wind. On the 
1 5th the President and Congress captured the British packet 
Swallow, having on board specie to the amount of nearly 
200,000 dollars. On the 31st they captured a south sea ship, 
loaded with oil, one of two ships under convoy of the Galatea 
frigate, to which they gave chase, but lost her in a fog. During 
the remainder of this cruize they saw no other British vessel 
except the frigate Nymph, which escaped in the night. On 
the 31st of December they arrived at Boston, having been as 
far to the east as longitude 22 degrees, and to the south as lati- 
tude 17 degrees N., whence whey ran down the trade wind to 
50 degrees W., and on their return to the north passed within 
120 miles of Bermuda. 

The Argus after parting from the squadron, proceeded to 
the coast of Brazil, sailed along the north coast from cape St. 
Roque to Surinam, thence to the windward of the West In- 
dies, and thence in every direction between the Bermudas, 
Halifax, and the continent. After being out 96 days she arriv- 
ed at New York, having made five prizes, valued at 200,000 
dollars. During her cruize, she fell in with a British squadron, 
consisting of six sail, two of which were of the line, one of 
them a remarkable fast sailer. The favour of the moon enabling 
them to chase by night as well as by day, the chase was con- 
tinued for three days, without intermission, and under various 
circumstances, but by unremitted exertions, the Argus was 
enabled to elude the pursuit. Pressed on all sides by the num- 
ber of the enemy, and the baffling and unsettled state of the 
weather, she was at one time within musket shot of a 74, and 
at another nearly surrounded. While in this perilous situation 
she actually captured and manned one of her prizes. 

The United Slates was still more fortunate. On the 25th of 
October, off' the Western Islands, about two weeks after being- 
separated from the squadron, she fell in with and captured, 
after an action of an hour and a half, the British frigate Mace- 
donian, of the same class and strength with the Guerriere.— 
The Macedonian, being to windward, had the advantage of 
choosing her distance, which was so great, that for the first half 
hour the United States could not use her carronades, and at no 
fime were they within musket or grape shot. To this circura- 



2j> lilSlOK^ 01" 1 HK WAR. 

Stance, and a heavy swell which prevailed, is ascribed the 
great length of the action. In this contest, the superiority oi 
the American gunnery was strikingly obvious. On board the 
Macedonian there were 36 killed and 68 wounded; she also lost 
her mizen mast, fore and main-top-masts, and main yard^ and 
was much cut up in her hull. On board the United States 
there were only five killed and seven wounded; the damage 
sustained by the ship was not so much as to render her return 
to port necessary. 

The United States arrived off New London with her prize 
on the 4th of December, and thence proceeded through the 
sound for New York. 

An equal ilcgrce of liberality was displayed by commodore 
Decatur, as on a former occasion by captain Hull. All the pro- 
perty of the officers and men on board the Macedonian was 
given up; that claimed by captain Garden included a band of 
music arid several casks of wine, which were valued at gSOO, 
and paid for by the commodore. 

While on this subject, we cannot forbear to mention an in- 
stance of generosity that occurred on this occasion among the 
common seamen. In the action with the Macedonian one of 
the carpenter's crew was killed, and left three children at the 
mercy of the world and of a worthless mother, who had aban- 
doned them. On the arrival of the two frigates at New York, 
their grandfather went on board the United States to claim the 
property and wages of his son, when an enquiry into the cir- 
cumstances of the family took place, and a plan was agreed up-v 
on by the seamen for the relief of the orphans, by which §800 
were instantly collected for their maintenance and education, to 
be placed in the hands of suitable trustees for the purpose. 

But of all the victories which have been achieved by single 
vessels, perhaps the most brilliant is that which it has now be- 
come our most pleasing task to record. At the time of the 
declaration of war, the Wasp sloop of war commanded by 
captain Jacob Jones, was on her passage from Europe, whither 
she had carried despatches to our ministers in England and 
France. She arrived in the Delaware a few weeks after that 
event, and sailed again on a cruize on the 13th of October. On 
the 1 6th she experienced a heavy gale, in which she lost her jib- 
boom and two men. On the evening of the following day, 
about eleven o'clock, in a clear moon-light evening, being then 
in the track of vessels passing from Bermuda to Halifax, she 
found herself near five strange sail, steering eastward. " As 
^iome of them seemed to be ships of war, it was thought better 
n p-et farther from them. The W^asp, therefore, hauled he 



HJSTORY OF THE WAR. -^ 

wind, and having reached a few miles to windward, so as to es- 
cape or fight as the occasion might require followed the strange 
sail through the night. At day-break on Sunday morning, 
captain Jones found that they were six large merchant ships, 
under convoy of a sloop of war, which proved to be the Frolic, 
captain Whinyates, from Honduras to England with a convoy, 
strongly armed and manned, having all forty or fifty men, and 
two of them mounting sixteen guns each. He determined^ 
however to attack them, and, as there was a heavy swell of the 
sea, and the weather boisterous, got down his top-gallant yards, 
close reefed the top-sails, and prepared for action. About 11 
o'clock the Frolic showed Spanish colours; and the Wasp im- 
mediately displayed the American ensign and pendant. At 32 
minutes past 1 1, the Wasp came down to windward on her lar- 
board side, within about sixty yards, and hailed. The enemy 
hauled down the Spanish colours, hoisted the British ensign, 
and opened a fire of cannon and musquetry — this the Wasp in- 
stantly returned; and coming near to the enemy, the action be- 
came close aiid without intermission. In four or five minutes 
the main-top-mast of the Wasp was shot away, atid falling down 
with the main-top-saii yard across the larboard fore and fore- 
top-sail braces, rendered her head yards m^manageable during 
the rest of the action. In two or three minutes more her gaft 
and mizen-top- gallant-mast were shot away. Still she continued 
a close and constant fire. The sea was so rough that the muz- 
zles of the Wasp,s guns were frequently in the water. The 
Americans, therefore, fired as the ship's side was going down, 
so that their shot went either on the enemy's deck or below it, 
v/hile the English fired as the vessel rose, and thus her balls 
chiefly touched the rigging, or were thrown away. The Wasp 
now shot ahead of the Frolic, raking her, and then resumed her 
position on her larboard bow. Her fire was now obviously at- 
tended with such success, and that of the Frolic so slackened, 
that captain Jones did not wish to board her, lest the rough- 
ness of the sea might endanger both vessels; but, in the course 
of a few minutes more, every brace of the Wasp was shot 
away, and her rigging so much torn to pieces, that he was 
afraid that his masts, being unsupported, would go by the 
board, and the frolic be able to escape. He thought, there- 
fore, the best chance of securing her was to board, and decide 
the contest at once. With this view he wore ship, and run- 
ning down upon the enemy, the vessels struck each other; the 
Wasp's side rubbing along the Frolic's bow, so that her jib- 
boom came in between the main and mizen rigging of the 
Wasp, directly over the heads of captain Jones and the first 



30 HISTORY or THE WAK. 

lieutenant, Mr Biddle, who were, at that moment, standings 
together near the capstan. The Frolic lay so fair for raking 
that they decided not to board until they had given a closing 
broadside. Whilst they were loading for this, so near were 
the two vessels, that the rammers of the Wasp were pushed 
against the Frolic's sides, and two of her guns went through 
the bow ports of the Frolic, and swept the whole length of her 
deck. At this moment Jack Lang,* a seaman of the Wasp, a 
gallant fellow, who had been once impressed by a British man 
of war, jumped on a gun with his cutlass, and was springing 
on board the Frolic; captain Jones wishing to fire again before 
boarding, called him down; but his impetuosity could not be 
restrained, and he was already on the bowsprit of the Frolic; 
when, seeing the ardour and enthusiasm of the Wasp*s crew, 
lieutenant Biddle mounted on the hammock cloth to board. 
At this signal the crew followed, but lieutenant Biddle's feet 
got entangled in the rigging of the enemy's bowsprit, and mid- 
shipman Baker, in his ardour to get on board, laying hold of 
his coat, he fell back on the Wasp's deck. He sprang up, 
and as the next swell of the sea brought the Frolic nearer, he 
got on the bowsprit, where Lang and another seaman were 
already. He passed them on the forecastle, and was surpris- 
ed at seeing not a single man alive on the Frolic's deck, ex- 
cept the seamen at the wbeel and three officers. The deck 
was slippery with blood, and strewed with the bodies of the 
dea.d. As he went forward, the captain of the Frolic, with two 
other officers, who were standing on the quarter-deck, threw 
down their swords, and made an inclination of their bodies, de- 
noting that they had surrendered. At this moment the co- 
lours were still flying, as probably none of the seamen of the 
Frolic would dare to go into the rigging for fear of the mus- 
quetry of the Wasp. Lieutenant Biddle, therefore, jumped 
into the rigging himself, and hauled down the British ensign, 
and possession v/as taken of the Frolic, in forty-three minutes 
after the first fire. She was in a shocking condition; the birth- 
deck particularly was crowded with dead and wounded, and 
dying; there being but a small proportion of the Frolic's crew 
who had escaped. Captain Jones instantly sent on board his 
surgeon's mate, and all the blankets of the Frolic were brought 



* " John Lang is a native of JSTcw Brunsivick in JVew-Jer- 
Bey. We mention^ with great fileafiure^ the name of this brave 
American i>eama7i^ as a proof that confip.icnous valour is con- 
fined to no rank in the naval serv icr" 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 51 

from her slop-room for the comfort of the wounded. To in- 
crease this confusion both the Frolic's masts soon fell, cover- 
ing the dead and every thing on deck, and she lay a complete 
wreck. . 

" It now appeared that the Frolic mounted sixteen thirty-two 
pound carronades, four twelve pounders on the main-deck, and 
two twelve pound carronades. She was therefore, superior 
to the Wasp, by exactly four twelve pounders. The number 
of men on board as stated by the officers of the Frolic, was 
one hundred and ten — the number of seamen on board the 
Wasp was one hundred and two; but it could not be ascertain- 
ed whether in this one hundred and ten were included marines 
and officers, for the W^asp had, beside her one hundred and 
two men, officers and marines, making the whole crew about 
one hundred and thirty-five. What is however descisive, as to 
their comparative force, is, that the officers of the Frolic ac- 
knowledged that they had as many men as they knew what to 
do with, and in fact the Wasp could have spared fifteen men. 
There was, therefore, on the most favourable view, at least an 
equality of men; and an inequality of four guns. The disparity 
of loss was much greater. The exact number of killed and 
wounded on board the Frolic could not be precisely determin- 
ed; but from the observations of our officers, and the declai'a- 
tions of those of the Frolic, the number could not have been 
less than about thirty killed, including two officers, and of the 
wounded between forty and fifty; the captain and second lieu- 
tenant being of the number. The Wasp had five men killed 
and five slightly wounded. 

" All hands were now employed in clearing the deck, bury- 
ing the dead, and taking care of the wounded, when captain 
Jones sent orders to lieutenant Biddle to proceed to Charles- 
ton, or any southern port of the United States; and as there 
was a suspicious sail to windward, the Wasp would continue 
her cruize. The ships then parted. The suspicious sail was 
now coming down very fast. At first it was supposed that she 
was one of the convoy, who had all fled during the engage- 
ment, and the ship cleared for action; but the enemy as she 
advanced, proved to be a seventy-four — the Poictier«, captain 
Beresford. She fired a shot over the Frolic; passed her; over- 
took the Wasp, the disabled state of whose rigging prevented 
her from escaping; and then returned to the Frolic, who could, 
of course, make no resistance. The Wasp and Frolic, were 
carried into Bermuda. 

" It is not the least praise due to captain Jones, that his ac- 
count of this gallant action is perfectly modest and unostenta- 



O-i HlSXOUy Ol; THE WAR. 

tious. On his own share in the capture it is unnecessary to 
add any thing * The courage and exertions of the officers and 
crew, he observes, 'fully answered my expectations and wish- 
es. Lieutenant Biddle's active conduct contributed much to 
our success, by the exact attention paid to every department 
during the engagement, and the animating example he afford- 
ed the crew by his intrepidity. Lieutenants Rodgers and Booth 
and Mr. Rapp, showed, by the incessant fire from their divi- 
sions, that they were not to be surpassed in resolution or skill. 
Mr. Knight, and every other officer, acted with a courage and 
promptitude highly honourable. Lieutenant Claxton, who was 
confined by sickness, left his bed a little previous to the en- 
gagement; and though too weak to be at his division remained 
upon deck, and showed by his composed manner of noting its 
incidents, that we had lost by his illness the service of a brave 
officer.' "* 

Meanwhile the utmost exertions were used on the lakes, in 
order to retrieve the disasters occasioned by the surrender of 
the force under general Hull. When that event took place, 
there was only one vessel of war owned by government on 
these waters, the brig Oneida, of 16 guns, on lake Ontario, 
commanded by lieutenant Woolsey. In the beginning of Oc- 
tober, commodore Chauncey arrived at Sackett's Harbour with 
a body of seamen, for the purpose of taking the command, and 
several schooners which had been employed as traders on the 
lake were instantly purchased and fitted out as vessels of war, 
and lieutenant Elliot was despatched to lake Erie to make ar- 
rangements there for building a naval force superior to that of 
the enemy. Elliot had not been many days at Black Rock, be- 
fore an opportunity offered for a display of the most determin- 
ed courage. 

On the morning of the 8th of October, two armed British 
vessels the brig Detroit, late the United States brig Adams, 
and the brig Caledonia, came down the lake from Maiden, and 
anchored under the guns of fort Erie, which is situated nearly 
opposite, and within a few miles of Black Rock, on the Nia- 
gara, near where it leaves the lake. Elliot instantly determin- 
ed to make an attack, and if possible get possession of them; 
and accordingly despatched an express to hasten the arrival of 
some sailors who were hourly expected. The sailors arrived 
about 12 o'clock, 50 in number. Though wearied with a 
march of 500 miles, they were only allowed till midnight to re- 



* Port Folio. 



HlblORY OF THE WAR. oS 

ircsh themselves, when, being reinforced by 5^ of the regular 
land forces, they pat otf from the mouth of Buifaloe creek in 
two boats, with lieutenant Elliot at their head. Having rowed 
into the lake above the vessels, they drifted down with the cur- 
rent till they were hailed by a centinel on board one of them, 
when they instantly sprang to their oars, and closing in upon 
the vessels, they jumped on board, drove the British below, 
and in ten minutes from their getting along side, the prisoners 
were all secured, the topsails sheeted home, and the vessels 
under way. Unfortunately tlie wind was not sufficiently strong 
to carry them up against a strong current into the lake, and 
both ran aground. The Caledonia, however, was beached un- 
der the protection of one of the batteries at Black Rock, but 
the Detroit lay near the head of an island in the middle of Nia- 
gara river, exposed to the batteries and flying artillery of the. 
enemy. The Americans returned their fire from the Detroit; 
but finding they could not bring the guns to bear with advan- 
tage, the prisoners were ail got on shore, and the brig was de- 
serted. In the course of the day several unsuccessful at- 
tempts were made by the British to board and destroy the mi- 
litary stores in the Detroit; but a considerable portion of them 
was secured by the Americans, after which she was set on fire 
and abandoned. 

The Caledonia belonged to the N. W. Company, and was 
loaded with peltry, which was estimated at 150,000 dollars. 
The Detroit was a government vessel, which was captured ^t 
Detroit. She was laden with military stores, and had on board 
sixty men and thirty American prisoners. She mounted six 
guns. The Caledonia mounted two guns, and she had 12 men. 
and 10 prisoners on board. The loss of the An)ericans in tliis 
gallant exploit was only two killed and four wounded. 

The force stationed on the Niagara fontier consisted of about 
5000 men, of whom the majority were militia, under the com- 
mand of general Van Rensselaer. The ardour of the troop<s 
having been very much excited by the successful issue of the 
cnterprize of lieutenant Elliot, an invasion of Canada v/as de- 
termined on, and accordingly, on the morning of the 13th of 
October, the troops at Fort Niagara and Grand Niagara, hav- 
ing been marched to Lewistown the preceding evening, the 
soldiers be^gan to embark at the dawn of day, under cover of a 
battery mounting two 18 pounders and two sixes. 

To accomplish their landing on the opposite shore, they had 
only 12 boats, each capable of conveying 20 men. Tlie move- 
ment being soon discovered by the enemy, a brisk fire of mus- 
f4uetrv was poured from the whole line of the Canada shore, 

D 



HISTORY OF THE V/\R. 

aided by three batteries. In the face of this tremendous fire 
the first landing was effected by only 100 men, who were form- 
ed in a masterly manner by colonel Van Ransselaer, and soon 
succeeded in gaining the heights, and reinforcements arriv- 
ing, the forts were stormed, and the enemy driven down the 
hill in every direction. Having received a reinforcement of 
several hundred Indians, however, the British shortly alter re- 
commenced a furious attack upon our troops, but they were 
quickly repulsed, and driven at the point of the bayonet. 

Ai this interesting crisis, when the victory was already 
achieved by a handful of troops, the ardour of the militia, most 
of whom were still on the American side, suddenly abated. 
Either dismayed by the yells of the Indians, or by the appear- 
ance of reinforcements which were seen marching from Fort 
George, they began to raise constitutional objections against 
crossing the lines, and at last absolutely refused to embark. 
Finding it impracticable to obtain the necessary reinforce- 
ments, the general ordered a retreat; but unfortunately the 
boats were dispersed, and many of the boatmen had fled, panic 
struck. This little band of heroes were consequently aban- 
doned to their fate, and after a severe conflict with a very un- 
equal force, they were under the necessity of surrendering. 
The loss of the Americans in this battle is variously stated, 
but is believed not to have exceeded 1000 in killed, wounded, 
and prisoners, of whom perhaps more than one half were re- 
gulars. The loss of the enemy is not known, but must have 
been considerable, as they were twice repulsed and driven 
down the heights. General Brock, who commanded, was kill- 
ed, and his aid-de-camp mortally wounded. 

General Van Rensselaer shortly after this affair resigned 
his command, which devolved on general Smyth, who, towards 
the end of November, projected another expedition, which 
was to have sailed from Buffaloe, at the head of the Niagara 
river. This expedition failed from the same cause which 
brought about the disaster at Queenslown, the refusal of the 
vtnilitia to cross the lines. 

Preparatory to the intended invasion, two parties were sent 
over, the one for the purpose of capturing a guard and destroy- 
ing a bridge, below fort Erie, the other to spike the cannon in 
the enemy's batteries and some light artillery in the neigh- 
bourhood. The first party made some prisoners, but failed 
lo destroy the bridge. The second, after rendering unservice- 
able the light artillery, separated by some misapprehension, 
<uid a part of them returned with the boats, leavmg behind 
tour oflicers, and 60 men. This small body, however, advar?- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ced to the batteries, attacked and took two of them in succes- 
sion, spiked the cannon, and took a number of prisoners. 
They then retreated down the Niagara, where they found two 
boats, on board of which thirty of the privates, three officers, 
and all the prisoners embarked, leaving behind a captain and 
30 men, who were captured by the British before the boats 
could return. 

Meanwhile, as soon as day began to appear, all the troops in 
the neighbourhood were marched to the place of embarkation. 
A part of the detachment which had passed to the opposite 
shore having now returned and excited appiehensions for the 
residue, about 350 men under colonel Winder put off in boats 
for their relief, and a part of this force had landed; when a su- 
perior force with a piece of .artillery appeared. A retreat was 
then ordered, which was effected with a loss of six killed and 
twenty-two wounded. 

The general embarkation now commenced; but there not be- 
ing a greater number of boats than would hold 1500 men, a 
council of officers was held, at which it was determined, that 
as positive orders had been received not to cross with less than 
3000 men, it was inexpedient to make the attempt until a suf- 
ficient number of boats could be procured for the whole num- 
ber to embark at once; dependence being still placed on the 
volunteering of the militia, it was thought that the actual num- 
ber of volunteers could not be determined without an embark- 
ation. The boats were accordingly moved a short distance up 
the river, and the troops disembarked. 

An additional number of boats being procured, another em- 
barkation took place on the morning of the first of December, 
but still no attempt was made to cross. After remaining in the 
boats a few hours, the troops were ordered to be withdrawn, 
and huts to be built for theii'^winter-quarters. 

Nothing could exceed the mortification of the troops on this 
occasion, nor indeed the disgust felt generally throughout the 
country. Proclamations had been issued by general Smyth a 
short time previous, in which reflections iiad been cast on the 
conductors of the former enterprises against Canada, and the 
" men of New York" had been called on to join the army for 
a few weeks, and acquire glory and renown under his banners. 
A number of volunteers had been collected by this invitation, 
somo.of whom had come a considerable distance. Their mor- 
tification may easily be conceivedl 

General Smyth, in his official report, relies, for his justifica- 
tion, on the positive orders that he had received not to cross 
Vrithout 3000 men at once, and states that considerably less 



36 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

than 2000 was the extent of the force which could be depend- 
ed upon. If this were the case, Smyth was certainly fully jus- 
tified in declining the invasion; but it is to be lamented that 
measures for ascertaining the strength of the army could not 
have been adopted M'ithout such a waste of public patriotism, 
and such a degradatio* of the military character. Perhaps the 
public mind was never so much distracted, nor public confi- 
dence so much shaken as on this occasion. 

The intelligence of the surrender of the army at Detroit, 
and of the exposure thereby of an extensive frontier to the 
ravages of Indian warfare, excited the most lively sensibility 
throughout the western country. The army destined for the 
relief and reinforcement of general Hull, had been ordered to 
rendezvous under general Harrison, at Louisville and Red 
Banks early in August, and on the receipt of the intelligence 
of the capitulation, volunteers poured in so fast from all parts 
of Kentucky and Ohio, that it became more necessary to re- 
press than to excite the ardour of the citizens, and vast num* 
bei*s were discharged, and with difficulty prevailed on to re- 
turn to their homes. 

The first operations of Harrison were directed to the relief 
of the frontier pjosts. He arrived at Piqua on the 2d of Sep- 
tember with about 2500 men, whence, after completing his ar- 
rangements and receiving his military stores, he marched on 
i)ie 5th for Fort Wayne, a post situated at the confluence of 
1 he rivers St. Mary and St. Joseph, which after their junction 
assume the name of the Miami of the Lake. This post had 
been for some time invested by hostile Indians, but, on hear- 
ing of the approach of Harrison they precipitately retreated, 
and the army arrived at the fort, without opposition, on the 
I 3th of September. 

Not being able immediately to move on towards Detroit, on 
account of the want of proper supplies, Harrison determined 
to employ the intermediate time in breaking up the towns of 
the hostile Indian tribes. For this purpose two expeditions 
were organized, one of which was destined against the Miami 
towns, situated upon the Wabash, a little below its confluence 
with the Tippacanoe river, the other against the Potawatamie 
villages, which stand on a river called St. Joseph, which falls 
into lake Michigan. Both of these detachments were success- 
ful. Nine villages were burnt, and all the corn cut up and de- 
stroyed, in order that the want of provisions might force the 
Indians to leave that part of the country. 

A few days after the return of the troops from those expedi- 
^o, ... y-.in^,r?,l Winchester arrived at Fort Wayne with addi- 



HISTORY OF THE VVAIU 3/ 

tional reinforcements. Winchester had been originally dcsti- 
,ned to the comnirind of this army by tlie president; Harrison, 
,3^yho was governor of the Indiana territory, had merely been ap- 
pointed a major general by brevet by the governor of Ken- 
tucky, and by him placed in the command pio tempore, on ac- 
count of the urgency of the^ occasion. On the arrival of Win- 
chester, Harrison accordingly relinquished the command, and 
set out for his own territory with a body of mounted men, for 
the purpose of breaking up the Indian settlements in that 
quarter. He had not proceeded far, however, before he recciv- 
ed, by express, a commission from the president) constituting 
him commander in chief of the north-western army, general 
Winchester to act as second in command. Tiiese counteract- 
ing measures are said to have been owing to the ignorance oi 
the president, at the time of Winchester's appointment, of the 
brevet appointment of Harrison, and to the general expression 
of confidence in the latter by the Kentuckians having reached 
the seat of government shortly after. Fortunately the measure 
created neither jealousy nor dislike on either side. 

General Harrison arrived at Fort Wayne, and resumed the 
command on the 23d of September. The day previous to his 
arrival, general Winchester had marched for Fort Defiance with 
2000 men consisting of four hundred regulars, a brigade of 
Kentucky militia, and a troop of horse. 

- In this part of the country one of the greatest difficulties 
ayhich an army has to surmount, is that which arises from the 
difficulty of transporting provisions and stores. At all seasons 
the rout is wet and miry. The country, though somewhat 
level, is broken by innumerable little runs, which are generally 
dry, except during or immediately after a heavy rain, when 
jthey are frequently impassible until the subsiding of the water, 
which is generally from twelve to twenty-four hours. Another 
of the difficulties of transportation arises from the nature of 
,the soil, which, being generally a rich loam, free from stones 
and gravel, in many places a horse will mire for miles full leg 
deep every step. 

To avoid the inconveniences and dangers of delay ip tra- 
versing this wilderness, each soldier was furnished Vvith pro- 
visions for six days, and general Harrison proceeded to Fort 
St. Mary's, in order to forward a detachment with supplies by 
the Au Glaise river, which affords a water conveyance for a 
considerable part of the way. This detachment was placed 
under the command of colonel Jennings. 

The army being now in the centre of a country which pre- 
sented every facility for the Indian mode of warfare, the utuios' 

D 2 



38 HISTOUY OF lliE WAP.. 

vigilance was necessary to prevent a surprise. The troops 
were formed into three divisions, viz. right and left wings and 
centre. Near the centre was the baggage, with a strong guard 
in front and rear. The wings marched about 60 or 100 yards 
distant from the centre. The front guard, which was ge- 
nerally about 300 strong, marched far enough in advance for 
their rear to be even with the front baggage guard, and were 
preceded by a company of spies, 40 in number, who were ge- 
nerally one or two miles in advance. The rear of the spies 
was coverd by the horse? 

So great were the obstructions occasioned by the under- 
brush, he. on this march, that the army never advanced more 
than from six to ten miles a-day. They generally halted about 
three o'clock to lay out and fortify their encampment, which 
was done by forming around it a breast work of logs and brush, 
of four or five feet in height: As soon as it was dark, small 
fires were kindled at the mouth of each tent, and large fires on 
the outside, about twenty paces from the breastwork. 

On the 24th of September, being the third day of the march, 
'he first trail was discovered; the number of Indians was sup- 
posed, however, to be only twelve or fifteen. They were pur- 
:iued by the horse for six or eight miles, when, being pressed, 
they scattered, which rendered further pursuit impracticable, 
rhe following day, ensign Legett, of the regulars, and four 
volunteers, solicited and obtained permission to push on to Fort 
Defiance, then 25 miles distant, to discover the strength and 
situation of the enemy. These gallant youths, however, had 
*oo little experience of the Indian mode of warfare to conduct 
with success an enterprize so hazardous. They fell the same 
evening, being shot, tomahawked and scalped in the most bar- 
barous manner, and in that condition were found by the spies 
on the 26th, about six miles in advance of the encampment 
tor the night. 

Early on the 27th the spies were sent out to bury the dead, 
supported by about 40 of the troop of horse. They had not 
advanced far before the flankers discovered a body of Indians 
m ambuscade on each side of a small Indian trail, on which 
they supposed the spies would march. Ballard, the comman- 
der, however, aware of the Indian stratagems, had placed his 
men in two divisions and marched one on each side of the trail. 
Finding their plan frustrated, the Indians left the ambuscade, 
and made for an elevation a short distance ahead. While form- 
ing on this elevation they were fired on by the spies, which they 
instantly returned, accompanied by a loud and terrific yell. The 
V avalry were then ordered to advance to the charge; but the In- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 39^ 

dians on theii approach raised the retreat yell, and precipitately 
fled to the swamps and thickets. The pursuit was continued 
for two or three miles; the nature of the country, however, ren- 
dered it iiTipossible to act with effect. In this skirmish only 
one American was slightly wounded in the ankle. The Indians 
were supposed to have suftcred more severely, as several trails 
of blood were discernible. After interring the remains of their 
unfortunate brethren, the detachment returned and took the ir 
usual station in front of the army. 

On the 28th, shortly after forming the line of march, four 
Indians were discovered and fired on by the spies, but without 
eifect. A general engagement being now expected to take 
place, the order of battle was formed; but no enemy appearing, 
the line of march was recommenced, and the advanced part of 
the horse was ordered to push forward to ascertain whether or 
not a strong force of the enemy was at hand. In a short time 
a fresh trail of Indians was discovered. These indications of 
the near approach to the enemy determined the general to cross 
the river as soon as possible, and accordingly a tolerable ford 
being discovered by the troopers, the army passed over and en- 
camped on the opposite shore. Here a fresh trail was per- 
ceived nearly equal to the one made by the army, which was 
supposed to be the trail made by Jennings' detachment, a sup- 
position which was hailed with joy by the soldiers, whose pro- 
visions were now exhausted. Their joy, however, was but of 
short duration. A party of horse, who ht^d been despatched 
down the trail, reported on their return that it had been made 
by a large force ot the enemy, whose encampment they had 
discovered about three miles below, two miles above Fort Defi- 
ance, with fires burning, war poles erected, and the bloody flag 
displayed. 

Late on the night of the 29th an express arrived from Jen- 
nings' regiment, stating that they were encamped on the Au 
Glaize, 40 miles above Fort Defiance, where Jennings had been 
ordered to erect a block-house. While engaged on this duty he 
had ascertained by his spies that fort Defiance was in posses- 
sion of the British and Indians, and he had therefore thought it 
imprudent to proceed further without reinforcements. 

Early on the morning of the 3t)lh, captain Garrard and 30 of 
his troopers were ordered to proceed with all possible despatch 
to Jennings' block-house to escort a brigade of pack horses 
with provisions for the relief of the starving army. The de- 
tachment reached the block-house in the course of the follow- 
ing day, and, after resting a few hours, again setoff as an escort 
to the provisions. They rejoined the army on the evening of 



40 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the 2d of October, drenched with 36 hours incessant rain. This 
was a joyful evening to the soldiers. Provisions were now 
plenty, and the escort was accompanied by their beloved gene- 
ral Harrison, who resumed the command. During the ab- 
sence of the detachment, the army had taken possession of 
Fort Defiance, the British and Indians having retreated down 
the river. 

On the 4th of October, general Harrison, having left at Fort 
Defiance the force which constituted the left wing of the army 
under general Winchester, returned to the settlements to or- 
ganize and bring up the centre and right wing. On the day 
of his departure, he ordered general Tupper, with the mounted 
troops under his command, consisting of nearly 1000 men, to 
proceed on an expedition to the Rapids. This expedition was 
never carried into effect. Its failure arose partly from the un- 
disciplined state of the troops which had been selected for the 
enterprize, and partly fi'om a disagreement which took place 
between their commander and general Winchester, who com- 
manded at Fort Defiance. The inefficiency of raw militia was 
perhaps never more strikingly displayed than on this occasion. 

General Tupper, after returning with his mounted volunteers 
to Urbanna, was despatched with the centre of the north-west- 
ern army, consisting of a regiment of regulars, and the Ohio 
volunteers and militia, to Fort M' Arthur. The right wing, 
consisting of a brigade of Pennsylvania, and a brigade of Vir- 
ginia militia, were stationed at Sandusky. 

Shortly after his arrival at Fort M'Arthur, general Tupper 
organized another expedition for the purpose of proceeding to 
the rapids of the Miami. He left the fort on the 10th, with 
a force consisting of upwards of 600 men, the soldiers carry- 
ing provisions in their knapsacks for five days. On the eve- 
ning of the 13th, being then about 13 miles from the rapids, an 
officer was despatched to examine the situation of the enemy, 
by whom it was ascertained that the British and Indians still 
occupied the settlements and fort at the rapids; and that the 
boats and vessels lay a little below. 

In consequence of this information the detachment halted 
until sunset, when they proceeded to a ford about two and an 
half miles above the rapids, whence scouts were again detached 
to observe more parlicuiarly the situation and force of the ene- 
my. Tiie necessary information being soon received, the 
troops were ordered to cross the river, in order to attack the 
enemy at the dawn of day. Unfortunately, however, it was 
impracticable for the troops to cross. Every expedient that 
could be devised was unavailing, and a number of men who 



iiiSTORY OF THE WAIL 41 

were swept down the rapids, were with difficulty saved, with 
the loss of their muskets and ammunition. 

In the morning, corivinced that he was unable to get at the 
enemy, general Tupper ordered the spies to endeavour to decoy 
them over; and they accordingly proceeded down and discover- 
ed themselves. The stratagem, however, proved unsuccess- 
ful; for though a few Indians crossed the river, they were too 
cautious to be drawn within the lines. The main body was 
then marched down the Miami, opposite to the encampment 
of the enemy. They appeared in considerable disorder as the 
advanced guard opened from the woods. The British, who 
were in the vessels and boats, immediately slipped their ca- 
bles and proceeded down the river. The Indian women were 
seen running off on the road leading to Detroit; the men corti- 
menccd a fire at the detachment from their muskets and a four 
pounder. 

General Tupper having observed a number of mounted In- 
dians proceeding up the river, and fearful of the camp being 
surprised, ordered the detachment to return. When within 
about a mile of the encampment, some of the soldiers, pressed 
probably by hunger, the provisions being now entirely exhaust- 
<jd, fired upon a drove of hogs, contrary to orders, and pursued 
them nearly half a mile; others left the ranks, and entered a 
field to gather corn. At this moment a body of mounted In- 
dians came upon them, killed four men, and then commenced an 
attack on the rear of the right flank. The column being in- 
stantly thrown back, commenced a brisk fire, which caused the 
Indians to give ground; but they quickly rallied, and passing 
along the van-guard, made a violent charge upon the rear of 
the left column. This column was also thrown briskly back, 
and every attempt made to break the lines being resisted, in 
20 minutes the Indians were driven from the field. Conceiv- 
ing, however, that the charge of the mounted men was merely- 
intended to throw the troops into disorder to make room for an 
attack of the foot, general Tupper ordered the right column 
to move up into marching order, lest that attack should be 
made on the right flank. This column had scarcely regained 
their position, when information was received that the Indians 
were crossing the river in considerable numbers. Tupper 
immediately ordered the left column to resume their march- 
ing order, and proceeded to the head of the right column, 
where he found that a number of Indians had crossed on horse- 
back, that some were still in the middle of the river, and about 
200 on the opposite bank. A battalion was immediately order- 
ed to advance and dislodge them. This attack was success- 



42 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

ful. The Indians were forced to retice, and several ot then, 
were shot from their horses while crossing the river. 

The horses rode by the Indians in this attack are stated to 
have been much superior to those they had been accustomed 
to use. They were high and active; they were also supplied 
with pistols and holsters. A number of Indians were shot from 
their horses; but they were with great dexterity thrown on 
again, and carried oif the field. Split Leg led on several of 
the charges at the commencement of the attack, mounted on 
a well trained white horse, from which he sometimes fired, and 
at other times leaped from him behind a tree. It was suppos- 
ed that he was wounded in the action, as another warrior rode 
the same horse in some of the last charges. 

After the retreat of the Indians the detachment were com- 
pelled to return with all speed to Fort M 'Arthur, as their pro- 
visions were consumed, and they had to march 40 miles before 
there was a possibility of a supply. 

On the 13th of Decembcp, general Tupper conducted ano- 
ther detachment to the rapids, consisting of between 1500 and 
3000 men. On the east side of the Miami, a few miles above 
the rapids, a body of the enemy was discovered, consisting of 
300 British regulars, and 600 or 700 Indians. Having ascer- 
tained the position of the enemy, Tupper ordered a small de- 
tachment to advance and commence an attack, and then to re- 
treat. This stratagem succeeded. The enemy pursued with 
impetuosity until they were nearly surrounded, and on being 
charged, were repulsed on all quarters with considerable slaugh- 
ter, and put to flight. Fourteen or fifteen of the British, and 
seventy or eighty Indians were left on the field. Many were 
likewise killed in swimming across the river, into which they 
precipitately plunged, that being their only means of escape. 

While these operations were carried on, on the borders of 
lake Erie, several expeditions were set on foot against the In- 
dian settlements in the Indiana and Illinois territories. A por- 
tion of the Kentucky volunteers, under general Hopkins, and 
a corps of Kentucky rangers, commanded by colonel Russel, 
were particularly destined for this service. This force having 
met at Vincennes, it was agreed that Hopkins should first pro- 
ceed to the relief of fort Harrison, a post higher up the Wa- 
bash, which was at that time invested by the Indians, and 
should then proceed to the Peoria Indian towns on the river 
Illinois, where he was to be met by the rangers ujader Russel. 
Another detachment, under captain Craig, was to join them 
at the same place. This last detachment was to march up the 
Illinois river. 



HISTORY OF THE WAH. 43 

Captain Taylor, the commander at Fort Harrison, having re- 
ceived information of the approach of the. hostile Indians a 
short time before they made their appearance, had used every 
precaution that the smaUness of his garrison would admit of. 
The first hostile symptoms appeared on the evening of the 3d 
of September, when two young men, who had been employed 
a short distance from the fort, were shot and scalped, and were 
found in that condition the next morning by a small party that 
had been sent out to seek them. This circumstance caused 
them to redouble their vigilance, and the officers of the guard 
were directed to walk the round all night, in order if possible 
to prevent any surprize. 

About 1 1 o'clock on the evening of the 4th, the garrison be- 
ing alarmed by the firing of one of the centinels, every man in- 
stantly flew to his post. In a few minutes the cry of fire add- 
ed to the alarm, when it was discovered that the lower block- 
house, in which had been deposited the property of the con- 
tractor, had been fired by the Indians. Such was the darkness 
of the night, that although the upper part of the building was 
occupied by a corporal's guard as an alarm post, yet the In- 
dians succeeded in firing it undiscovered, and unfortunately, a 
few minutes after the discovery of the fire, it communicated 
to a quantity of whisky that had been deposited there, and im- 
mediately assended to the roof, baffling every effort that was 
made to extinguish it. As the block-house adjoined the bar- 
racks, which constituted part of the fortifications, most of the 
men gave themselves up for lost; and indeed the raging of the 
fire, the yells of the Indians, and the cries of the women an^ 
children (who had taken refuge in the fort,) were sufficient to 
appal the stoutest heart. Happily the presence of mind of the 
commander never forsook him. He instantly stationed a part 
of his men on the roof of the barracks, with orders to tear off 
that part adjoining the block-house, while the remainder kept 
up a constant fire on the Indians from another block-house and 
two bastions. The roof was torn off under a shower of bullets 
from without, by which, however, only one man was killed and 
two wounded. 

By this success the soldiers were inspired with firmness, and 
now used such exertions, that before day they had not only ex- 
tinguished the fire, but raised a breast-\york five or six feet 
high in the gap occasioned by the burnif% of the block-house, 
although the Indians continued to pour in a heavy fire of balls 
and showers of arrows during the whole time the attack lasted 
(which was seven hours), in every part ofjthe parade. 

On the first appearance of the fire, two of the soldiers had.. 



44 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

in despair, jumped the pickets. One of them returned aboai 
an hour before day, and, running up towards the gate, begged 
for God's sake that it might be opened. On suspicion that 
this was an Indian stratagem, he was fired at. He then ran to 
the other bastion, where, his voice being known, he was direct- 
ed to lie down till day-light behind an empty barrel that hap- 
pened to be outside of the pickets. This poor fellow was 
shockingly wounded, and his companion cut to pieces by the 
Indians. 

After keepfng up a constant fire till six in the morning, 
which after day light was returned with considerable effect by 
the garrison, tlie Indians retreated out of reach of- the guns. 
They then drove together all the horses and hogs in the neigh- 
bourhood, and shot them in sight of their owners. The whole 
of the horned cattle they succeeded in carrying off. 

In this attack the Americans had but three killed, and three 
wounded, including the two that jumped the pickets. The In- 
dian lo6s was supposed to be considerable, but as they always 
carry off both their dead and wounded, the amount could not be 
ascertained. At the moment of the attack there were only fif- 
teen effective men in the garrison; the others being either sick 
or convalescent. 

The Indians disheartened by this failure, made no further 
attempt on the fort, but the garrison still remained in a peri- 
lous situation, as the greater part of their provisions had been 
destroyed by the fire, and the loss of their stock prevented fu- 
ture supplies. Captain Taylor therefore attempted to send, by 
night, two men in a canoe down the river to Vincennes, to make 
known his situation, but they were forced to return, the river 
being found too well guarded. The Indians had made a fire on 
the bank of the river, a short distance below the garrison 
which gave them an opportunity of seeing any craft that might 
attempt to pass, with a canoe ready below to intercept it. A 
more fortunate attempt was made by land, and the garrison 
was immediately after relieved by the force under general 
Hopkins, consisting of nearly 4000 men. 

After the relief of Fort Harrison, Hopkins began his prepa- 
rations for his expedition against the Peoria towns. They 
commenced their march on the morning of the 15th of Octo- 
beiS and continued it for four days in a direction nearly north. 
But here again the lf)irit of insubordination began to show it- 
self. The general states in his official despatch, that having 
ordered a halt on the afternoon of the 4th day, in a fine piece of 
grass, for the purpose of refreshing the horses, he was ad- 
dressed by one of his majors, in the most rode and dictatorial 



lllSlOJiY Ot THE WAR. 45 

■aaiinei', icqulring him instantly to resume his march, or his 
attalion would break from the army and return. Of the re- 
ply of the general to this modest request we are not informed. 
Next evening, however, an event took place which seems to 
have spread the spirit of discontent through the whole detach- 
ment. A violent gust of wind having arisen aboiH sun-set^i 
just as the troops had encamped, the Indians set fire to the 
prairie all around them, which drove furiously on the camp. 
They succeeded, however, in protecting themselves by firing 
the grass around the encampment. 

Next morning, in consequence of the discontent that pre- 
vailed, the general called a council of his officers, to whom he 
stated his apprehensions, the expectations of the country, and 
the disgrace attending the failure of the expedition; and, on 
the oth^r hand, the exhausted state of the horses, and the want 
o'i provisions. He then requested the commandants of each re- 
giment to convene the whole of the officers belonging to it, and 
to take the sense of the army on the measures to be pursued^ 
adding, that if 500 volunteers turned out he would put himself 
at their head, and proceed in quest of the Indian towns, and the 
rest of the army might return to fort Harrison. In less thaii 
an hour the report was made almost unanimously to return.-^- 
In vain did the general request tliat he might dictate the course 
ibr that day only. His authority was now at an end; and all the 
efforts of the officers were necessary to restore order in lire 
..r^nks, and to conduct the retreat without danger from the su: 
•TOunding though unseen foe. 

Though this expedition returned almost without obtaining 
the sight of an enemy, yet it was not altogether unproductive 
of benefit. The Indians of the neighbouring towns, hearing of 
Its approach, had marched the greater part of their warriois to 
meet it, leaving their villages in a defenceless condition. In 
this state they were found by colonel Russell, who had marched 
upon them in the expectation of meeting with Hopkins' army, 
and his detachment attacked and defeated those who had Ijeen 
left behind. Having driven them into a swamp, through which 
the rangers pursued them for three mileb, up to their waists 
in mud and water, he returned and burnt their towns, and de- 
-itroyed their corn. The number of waniors who advanced to 
meet Hopkins from those towns is stated to have amounted to 
fOO; Russell's force consisted of ftot more than 400 men. A 
considerable number of Indians were killed in this attack. On 
die part of the Americans there were only four wounded, none 
of them mortally. 

Craig'2 force was still smaller than that under Ru^sellj it ' 

V. 



■iv lilSTOUY OP THE V^'AR. 

Stated to i)ti\c consisted of not more than 80 men. With this 
small body he marched up to the Illinois river, twenty miles 
above the town destroyed by Russell. Here he attacked an In- 
dian settlement, which he totally destroyed, with all the im- 
provements, and took 42 prisoners, one of them an English- 
man, and a large collection of furs. He retu^rned with his pri- 
lioners and booty without the loss of a man. 

In the month of November another Indian expedition was 
undertaken by general Hopkins, with about 1250 men. This 
was directed against the towns of the Wabash, where the bat- 
tle of Tippacanoe had been fought about twelve months before. 
Having left fort Harrison on the llth, accompanied with boats 
for the transportation of provisions, forage, and military stores, 
Hopkins arrived at the Prophet's town on the 19th, without in- 
terruption. Early in the morning of that day, 300 men were 
detached to surprise the Winebago town on Ponce Passu 
oreek, a short distance below the Prophet's. Having sur- 
rounded it about the break of day, they were surprised to find 
it evacuated. The party- accordingly, after destroying it, re- 
joined the main body at the Prophet's town. 

For three days Hopkins' detachment was employed in achiev- 
ing the complete destruction of the Prophet's town, and the 
large Kica])oo village adjoining, the former consisting of 40 
and the latter of 160 cabins and huts. They likewise destroy- 
ed all their cultivated fields, fences, &;c. and constructed works 
for the defence of the boats and of the encampment. 

On the 21st a reconnoitering party were attacked by a body 
of Indians, and one of their number killed. The following day 
60 horsemen were despatched to bury tiieir comrade, and gain 
a better knowledge of the ground, but they unfortunately fell 
into an ambuscade, in which 18 of the party were killed, 
wounded or missing. This party, on their return, brought in- 
formation of a^large assemblage of the enemy, who, encouraged 
by the strength of their camp, appeared to be waiting an at- 
tack. Every prepai*ation v-^as accordingly made to march early 
next morning, to engage the enemy. A violent fall of snow, 
however prevented the movement on the 23d; and the camp 
was found abandoned on the following day. The position 
which the Indians had thus abandoned is spoken of as- having 
been remarkably strong. The Ponce Passu, a deep rapid 
creek, was in their rear, running in a semicircle; in front was 
a bluff, iOO feet high, almost perpendicular, and only to be pe- 
netrated by three steep ravines. 

On the return of the troops to camp, the river was found so 
' iii of ice, as to alarm them lor the return of the boats. Hop- 



HISTORY OF THE WAIl. 4? 

kins had intended to have spent one v/cek more in endeavour- 
ing to find the Indian camps; but the shoeless, shirtless state 
of the troops, now clad in the remnants of their summer dress; 
a river full of ice; the hills covered with snow; and, above all, 
the uncertainty of finding an enemy; all these circumstances 
determined him to return. They accordingly set out on tho 
25th, and in a few days arrived at Fort Harrison, having com- 
pleted a march of upwards of 100 miles into the Indian coun- 
try, which is totally devoid of roads, and destroyed three of 
their principal towns, in the space of less than twenty days. 

The last Indian expedition of which mention is made, in this 
quarter, is one which was commanded by colonel Campbell, con- 
sisting of 600 men, which marched from Greenville, (Ohio) 
against the towns on the Mississinewa, a branch of the Wabash. 

On the i/tli of December, after marching all night, Camp- 
bell arrived at one of the towns about day-break, which he in- 
stantly attacked, and the Indians were driven across the Mis- 
sissinewa river, with the loss of 7 killed and 37 prisoners. 
Only one American was killed and one wounded in this skir- 
mish. — After securing the prisoners a part of the detachment 
was despatched down the river, who returned the same day, 
having burned three villages without resistance. They then 
encamped on the ground where the first village stood. 

The following morning a little before day light, tlie camp 
was attacked by a body of Indians, supposed to be about 300. 
They commenced their attack on the right, with a horrid yelL 
After a desperate conflict of about three quarters of an hour 
a charge was made by the cavalry, which forced tl^e Indians to 
retreat, leaving 40 killed on the field. In this affair the Ame- 
ricans had eight killed, and twenty-five or thirty wounded. 

Another attack was anticipated, as information v/as received 
that Tecumseh, with four or five hundred warriors was only 
fifteen miles from the scene of action; but reinforcements 
shortly after arriving from Greenville, they effected their re- 
treat without molestation. 

A small body of Georgia volunteers had been collected early 
in August, for an expedition against the Indians on our South- 
ern border, where considerable depredations had been com- 
mitted. Several unforeseen circumstances, however, prevent- 
ed its being carried into effect, until the 24th of September, 
when the detachment, consisting of only 1 17 men, with twelve 
horses, marched from St. Johns under the command of colonel 
Newnan, against the Lotchaway towns in East Florida. This 
small force carried with them only four day*s provisions. 

The detachment left St. Johns in the evening, marching in 



lilSTOHY OF THE WAH. 



in file, with a small party in front and in rear, the openness 
of the country rendering it unnecessary to employ men on the 
right and left. The encampment at night, there being three 
companies, was in the form of a triangle, with the baggap^e in 
the centre; the men lying v/ith their clothes on, their feet point- 
ing outwards, and their firelocks m their arms'. In case of an 
attack, the officers were instructcci to bring up their companies 
upon the right and left of the company fronting the enemy, and 
to follow the Indian mode of fighting until ordered to charge 

In case of meeting th^ enemy on the march, the first compa- 
ny, which consisted of riflemen, was instructed to file off to the 
right, the centre company to advance and form to the front in 
single rank, and the company in the rear to file off to tiie left; 
the whole then to advance in tiie form of a crescent, and en- 
deavour to encircle the enemy. 

On the morning of the fourtii day, when v/iihin a few miles 
of the Inciian towns, the party in advance discover'ed'a body of 
Indians marching along the path meeting them. The compa- 
nies were immediately ordered to advance according to the pre- 
vious instructions, which appeared exactly suited to the situa- 
tion .in which the enemy was found, and Newnan placed him- 
self at the head of the centre company. The Indians were nov^r 
seen failing back and making preparations for battle, by un- 
slinging their packs, trimming their rifles, and forming; and the 
Americans continued to advance, taking advantage of the trees 
in their progress, until w^ithin musket shot of the enemy, when 
many of the Indians began to fire. The charge being now- 
ordered, the enemy were forced precipitately to retire, and take 
feiuge in a swamp. Unfortunately the riflemen in filing tc 
the right, inadvertently took too great a circuit, by which 
means a small svvamp was interposed between them and the 
Indians, which rendered the victory less decisive than it would 
b.ave been had the whole charged together before the Indians 
dispersed. The action, including the skirmishing on the 
flanks, lasted two hours and a half, the Indians having fre- 
quently attempted to outflank and get in rear of the detach- 
ment^ but were always repulsed, by the companies extending 
to the right and left. The detachment had one killed and nine 
wounded in this affair. The loss of the Indians was more con- 
siderable. Among the killed w'as their king Payne. 

The Americans remained on the ground to watch the mo- 
tions of the Indians, who were now seen near the swamp, paint- 
ing themselves, and in consultation, which indicated an inten- 
tion 6f renewing the combat. Accordingly half an hour before 
sun-set, having obtained a considerable reinforcement of ne- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ^ 

groes and Indians from their towns, tliey commenced the most 
horrid yells, imitating the cries and noise of ahiiost every 
animal of the forest, their chiefs advancing in front in a stoop- 
ing serpentine manner, and making the most wild and frantic 
gestures, until they approached within two hundred yards, 
when they commenced firing. The soldiers remained perfectly 
still and steady behind logs and trees, until the enemy had ap- 
proached somewhat nearer, when a brisk and well directed fire 
soon drove them back to their original ground. The action 
lasted until eight o'clock, when the enemy were completely 
repulsed. Two men were killed and one wounded; the enemy 
carried off several of their men before it was dark, after which 
all firing v/as at the spot from whence the flash arose. After 
thus fighting all day, the detachment had to work throughout 
the whole of the night, and by day light had completed a tole- 
rable breast- work of logs and earth with port-holes. 

As soon as it was dark, one of the officers was depatched to 
St. John's for reinforcements and provisions, and six of the men 
took the liberty to accompany him, taking with them some of 
the best horses. 

For two days succeeding the battle, nothing was seen nor 
heard of the enemy; but on the evening of the third day they 
commenced firing at their works at long distance, and renewed 
it every day for five or six days, but without effect. 

Seven or eight days having elapsed since the express had 
left them, hunger was staring them in the face, and they were 
now reduced to the necessity of eating one of the horses, the;- 
had no surgeon to dress the wounded, and apprehensions were 
entertained that the enemy would receive reinforcements from 
Augustine, or the Makasukie Indians. Expecting relief, how- 
ever, every hour, Newnan was unwilling to leave the breast- 
work while a horse was left to eat; but one of the captains de- 
clared that he was determined to set off with his company; and 
many of the men, giving up all hopes of relief, talked of desert- 
ing in the night rather than perish or fall a sacrifice to the mer- 
ciless negroes and Indians, whom they were taught to believe 
would surround them in great numbers in a few days. 

In this trying situation, the few remaining horses being shot 
down, and the number of sick daily increasing, Newnan reluc- 
tantly consented to leave the works, and directed the litters to 
be prepared to carry the wounded. Alx)Ut nine in the evening 
they commenced their distressing march, carrying five wound- 
ed men in litters, and supporting two or three m.ore; and had 
not proceeded more than eight miles, when the men becamo 

E 2 



HISTORY Ob THE WAU. 

perfectly exhausted from hunger and fatigue, and were unahic 
to carry the wounded any farther. 

This hasty retreat was peculiarly unfortunate; for they had 
not left the breast work more than two hours when twenty-five 
horsemen with provisions, arrived to their relief, on a different 
road from the one they had taken, but finding the place desert- 
ed they returned to St. John's, two men that had been despatch- 
ed on the path the horsemen came, l)y some means or other 
missing the-m. They again constructed a plan of defence, and 
a Serjeant major with one private was despatched to Picalata, 
to learn what had occasioned the delay of the supplies. 

Here once more the spirit of insubordination began to display 
itself, and at three o'clock in the afternoon Newnan was com- 
pelled again to order the march. They had scarcely marched 
five miles, however^ before the front of the detachment disco- 
vered the heads of several Indians on both sides of the path, 
from among some trees that had been laid prostrate by a hur- 
ricane; at the same instant the enemy fired upon the advanced 
party? and shot down four of them, one of whom died on the 
spot, and two survived but a few days. The moment the firino; 
was heard, the detachment v/as ordered to charge, and the In- 
dians were completely defeated in 15 minutes, many dropping 
their guns, and all running off without attempting to rally.— 
Four of them were left dead on the field. The detachment lay 
on the battle ground all night, and next day marched five miles, 
when they again threw up breast-works between two ponds, 
jiving upon gophers, alligators, and palmetto stocks, until the 
hirival of the provisions and horses, when they were enabled 
lo proceed to St. John's. The number of Indians in the first 
engagement was from 75 to 100. In the second engagement 
their number, (including negroes, who are their best soldiers) 
was double that of the Americans; and in the third engage- 
ment there appeared to be 50, which wus nearly equal to their 
force, after deducting the sick and wounded. The number of 
killed and v^ounded among the Indians must have been at least 
fifty. 

Another expediiion pf volunteers was sent against those 
Indians from tjie state of Tennessee in the month of February. 
1813, by whom they were defeated in three engagements, and 
38 killed, a nunJ^er wounded, and seven taken prisoners. The 
detachment then burnt their settlements to the number of 386 
houses, destroyed several thousand bushels of corn, and took 
400 horses, and about the same number of cattle. The Indians 
eniirely disappeared before the detachment left the settlement. 
In the three engagements the Americans lost only one killed 
and seven wounded. 



HiStOllY OF THE WAR. 5 I 

We have never seen the real value of the militia, and at the 
same time their total inadequacy in their present state, more 
strikingly exemplified than in the official narratives of those 
Indian expeditions. The materiel^ the stamina of the militia, 
cannot be surpassed; but as to all other military requisites 
they are totally^ worthless. When we see them encountering 
fatigue, cold and hunger, without a murmur, and displaying in 
battle the most undaunted bravery and resolution, we cannot but 
lament that all those valuable qualities should be rendered of 
none effect by the total want of subordination and discipline, 
without which, zeal, numbers, and courage avail nothing. 

It rests with the national legislature to apply the remedy to 
this evil. The constitution haii -clothed them with the power, 
and it is to be hoped they v/ill no longer refuse to make use of 
it. The system ought either to be abolished altogether, as a 
most extravagant waste of time or money, or it ought to be 
made (and it is surely capable of being made so) a powerful 
and certain means of national defence, by a proper system of 
national instruction. 

On the arrival of the Constitution frigate at Boston after the 
capture of the Guerriere, captain Hull received permission to 
lemain on shore for the settlement of his affairs, and commo- 
dore Bainbridge was appointed to command in his room. Af- 
ter undergoing the necessary repairs, she sailed on a cruize to 
the East Indies, towards the end of October, accompanied by 
the Hornet sloop of war, commanded by captain Lawrence; 
but in running down the coast of the Brazils, they found the 
Bonne Citoyenne, a British ship of war, loaded with specie, 
lying in the port of St. Salvador. The Bonne Citoyenne was 
a larger vessel, and had a greater force both in guns and men 
than the Hornet; but so eager was captain Lawrence to engage 
her, that he sent, through the American consul at St. Salvador, 
a challenge to her commander, captain Greene, pledging his 
honour that neither the Constitution, nor any other American 
vessel should interfere. This pledge was confirmed by com- 
modore Bainbridge, who, to show his sincerity, left the Hornet 
before St. Salvador, and sailed on another cruize. The com- 
mander of the Bonne Citoyenne, however, did not see fit to ac- 
cept of the challenge, but suffered himself to be blockaded by 
the Hornet. 

On the 29th of December, a few days after leaving St. Sal- 
vador, about ten leagues from the coast of Brazil, at nine in the 
morning, Bainbridge discovered two strange sail, one of which 
stood in for the land, the other off shore towards the Consti- 
tution. At half past eleven, the private signal for the day be 



52 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ing made, and not ans\vered, it was concluded she was an ene- 
vny. The American ensign was hoisted at twelve, and shortly 
after the enemy hoisted her colours. About half past one, 
the vessel being perceived to be a British frigate, Bainbridge 
tacked ship, and stood towards her, when she immediately bore 
down with the intention of raking, which was avoided by wear- 
ing. At two, the enemy being then within half a mile of the 
Constitution, and te windward, and having hauled down her co- 
lours except the union, Bainbridge ordered a gun to be fired 
ahead of her to make her show her colours, which was follow- 
ed by a broadside; on which the enemy hoisted her colours and 
immediately returned the fire. 

A general action now commenced with round and grape- 
shot, the British frigate keeping at a much greater distance 
than the commodore wished, but he could not bring her to 
closer action without exposing his ship to being raked. A 
number of manoeuvres were now made by both vessels to ob- 
tain a raking position, during which the wheel of the Consti- 
tution was shot entirely away. Bainbridge now determined to 
close with the enemy notwithstanding the danger of being rak- 
ed, and accordingly set the fore and mainsail, and luffed up 
close to her. 

About 4 o'clock, the fire of the enemy being completely si- 
lenced, and her colours in the main rigging being down, it 
was supposed she had struck, and the Constitution shot ahead 
to repair the rigging, leaving the enemy a complete wreck. It 
was shortly after, however, discovered that the colours were 
still flying; and accordingly, after repairing some of the damage, 
the Constitution took a position across the enemy's bows in 
order to rake her, but this she prudently avoided by striking 
her flag. 

Bainbridge now sent his first lieutenant on board the prize, 
which proved to be the Java, a frigate of the same rate as the 
Guerriere and Macedonian, but with a much larger comple- 
ment of men, having had upwards of 400 on board at the com- 
mencement of the action, 100 of them being supernumeraries 
intended for the British ships of war in the East Indies. There 
was also on board lieutenant-general Hislop, appointed to the 
command of Bombay, major Walker and captain Wood of his 
staff, and captain Marshall, master, and commander in the 
British navy, going to the East Indies to take command of a 
sloop of war there. The commander was captain Lambert, a 
very distinguished oflicer, who was mortally wounded in the 
action. 

The action lasted an hour and fifty-five minutes, in vrhicb 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 5^ 

time tbe Java was completely dismasted, not having a spar of 
any kind standing. She had been fitted out in the most com- 
plete manner, and had copper on board for a 74 and two brigs 
building at Bombay; but the great distance from our coast, and 
the disabled state of the vessel, forbidding every idea of at- 
tempting to take her to the United States, after removing the 
prisoners and their baggage, she was set on fire, and soon af- 
ter blew up. 

The loss on board the Constitution was 9 killed and 25 
wounded. The loss on board the Java could not be exactly 
ascertained, as the officers were extremely cautious in speak- 
ing of the number of her crew. Commodore Bainbridge states 
it at 60 killed and 101 wounded certainly; by a letter written on 
board the Constitution by one of the officers of the Java, and 
accidentally found, the number was staled to be 60 killed and 
\ 70 wounded. 

After blowing up the Java, Bainbridge returned to St. Salva- 
dor, where he landed all the prisoners on their parole, to the 
number of 361, exclusive of nine Portuguese seamen who were 
liberated and given up to the governor of St. Salvador, and 
three passengers, private characters, whom the commodore 
did not consider prisoners of war 

On account of the destruction of the boats of both vessels in 
the action, nothing was taken from on board the Java except 
the prisoners and their baggage, the whole of which was given 
up to them. Among other valuable articles given up was a 
chest of plate, which had been presented to general Hislop by 
the colonel of Demerara. Commodore Bainbridge received 
the public acknowledgements of the governor of St. Salvador, 
as well as of his prisoners, for the kind treatment and benefi- 
cence which he displayed on this occasion. 

The Constitution again left St. Salvador on the 6th of Janua- 
ry, and arrived at Boston about the middle of February. 

Meanwhile the Hornet blockaded the Bonne Citoyenne, un- 
lii the 24th of January, when the Montague, a 74 gun ship., 
hove in sight and chased her into the harbour; but night com- 
ing on, she wore and stood out to the southward. Knowing 
that she had left Rio Janeiro for the express purpose of reliev- 
ing the Bonne Citoyenne and the packet which Lawrence had 
also blockaded for 14 days, and obliged her to send her mail to 
Rio Janeiro in a Portuguese smack, he judged it most prudent 
to shift his cruising ground, and accordingly shaped his course 
towards Pernambuco. On the 4th of February he captui'ed the 
English brig Resolution, of 10 guns, laden with provisions and 
v^bout g23,000 in specie; but as she sailed dull, and he could 



54 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

not spare hands to man her, he took out the money and crew, 
and set her on fire. He then ran down the coast for Moran- 
ham, and cruised there a short time, and thence ran off Suri- 
nam. After cruising off that coast from the 15th to the 22d of 
February, without meeting a vessel he stood for Demarara. 
Next morning he discovered a brig to leeward, which he chas- 
ed so near the shore that he was obliged to haul off for want of 
a pilot. Previous to giving up the chase, however, he discov- 
ered a vessel at anchor without the bar of Demarara river, with 
the English colours flying, apparently a brig of war. In beat- 
ing around Carabona bank, in order to get at her, at half pasJL 
three in the afternoon, he discovered another sail on his wea- 
ther quarter, edging down for him. At 20 minutes past 4 she 
hoisted English colours, when she was discovered to be a large 
man of war brig. The Hornet was immediately cleared fpr 
action, and kept close to the wind, in order, if possible, to get 
the weather guage. At 5 minutes past 10, finding he could 
weather the enemy, Lawrence hoisted American colours, tack- 
ed, and shortly after exchanged broadsides with the British 
ship, within half pistol shot. Observing the enemy in the act 
of wearing, Lawrence now bore up, received his starboard 
broadside, ran him close on board on the starboard quarter, 
and kept up such a heavy and well directed fire, that in less 
than 15 minutes the British struck their colours, and hoisted 
an ensign, union down, from their fore rigging, as a signal of 
distress. 

Lieutenant Shubrick* was immediately sent on board the 
prize, which proved to be the British brig Peacock, command- 
ed by captain William Peake, who fell in the latter part of the 
action. Shubrick, on getting on board, found that a number 
of her crew were killed and wounded, and that she was' sink- 
ing fast, being literally cut to pieces, aud having six feet water 
in her hold. Both vessels were immediately brought to an- 
chor, and the Hornet's boats dispatched to bring off the wound- 
ed; but although her guns were thrown overboard, the shot 
holes that could be got at plugged and every exertion made 
by pumping and bailing to keep her afloat until the prisoners 
could be removed, all proved ineffectual, and she sunk in five^ 
and a half fathoms water, carrying down 13 of her crew, and 
three sailors belonging to the Hornet, who were nobly risking 
their lives for the safety of the vanquished fop. A lieutenant 



* Lieutenant Shubrick has had the good fortune to beiHJh' 
actions with the Guefniere* Java^ and Peacock, 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. , 55 

and other officers and rnen of the Hornet employed in remov- 
ing the prisoners, with ditBcuity saved tftemseives, by jumping 
into a boat that was lying on her booms as sne went down. 
Four of the 1 3 of the crew of the Peacock, mentioned as being 
in her when she went down, were so fortunate as to gain the 
fore-top, and were afterwards taken off by the boats. Previ- 
ous to her going down, four of her men took to her stern boat, 
that had been much damaged during the action, and it is hop- 
ed reached the shore in safety; but from the heavy sea run- 
ning at the time, the shattered state of the boat, and the 
difficulty of landing on the coast, it is more than probable that 
they were lost. 

The exact number of killed on board the Peacock could not 
be ascertained from her officers. Captain Peake and four men 
were found dead on board by the Americans; the master, one 
midshipman, carpenter, captain's clerk, and 29 seamen were 
wounded, most of them severely, three of whom died of their 
wounds after being removed. On board the Hornet there was 
only one killed and two wounded by the enemy, but two men 
were severely burnt by the explosion of a cartridge during the 
action, one of whom survived but a few days. Her rigging and 
sails were much cut, a shot passed through the foremast, and 
the bowsprit was slightly injured; her hull received little or no 
damage. 

The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the finest vessels 
of her class in the British navy. Her tonnage was supposed to 
be about equal to thai of the Hornet. Her beam was greater' 
by five inches; but her extreme length not so great by four 
feet. She mounted sixteen 24 pound carronades, two long 
nines, one twelve pound carronade on her top-gallant forecastle 
as a shifting gun, and one four, or six pounder and two swivels 
mounted aft. Her crew consisted of 134 men, four of whom 
were absent in a prize. 

During the engagement, the L'Espiegle, the brig that Law- 
rence had been endeavouring to reach before the Peacock ap- 
peared, which mounted 16 thirty-two pound carronades, and 
two long nines, lay about six miles distant, and could plainly see 
the whole of the action. Apprehensions were entertained, 
that she would beat out to the assistance of her consort, and 
therefore such exertions were made in repairing damages, that 
Dy nine o'clock the boats were stowed away, a new set of sails 
bent, and the ship completely ready for action. She, however, 
declined coming out, and at two in the morning the Hornet got 
binder way. 

The morning after the action, Lawrence found that he had 



66 HISTORY Qh' TliK W A is - 

277 souls on board, and therefore, as his own crew had been 
on two-thirds allowance of provisions for some time, and his 
supply of water was but scant, he determined to make the best 
of his way to the United States. He arrived at Holmes' Hole 
on the 19th of March, and a few days after proceeded down 
the sound to New York. 

The kindness and hospitality shown by captain Lawrence and 
his offiic^ers to his unfortunate prisoners, was such as to pene- 
trate them with the most lively gratitude, which the officers ex- 
pressed shortly after their arrival by a public letter of thanks. 
<' So much," say they, « was done to alleviate the distressing 
and uncomfortable situation in which we were placed when 
received on board the sloop you command, that we cannot bet- 
ter express our feelings than by saying ' We ceased to con- 
sider ourselves prisoners;' and every thing that friendship 
could dictate was adopted by you and the officers of the Hor- 
net, to remedy the inconvenience we would otherwise have ex- 
perienced from the unavoidable loss of the whole of our pro- 
perty and clothes, by the sudden sinking of the Peacock." 

Nor was the crew of the Hornet a whit behind their superi- 
ors in that noble generosity which ever accompanies true brav- 
ery. As the sailors of the Peacock had lost every thing ex- 
cept what they had on their backs when she went "down, our 
American tars united to relieve them, and made every English 
sailor a present of two shirts, a blue jacket, and a pair ot trow- 
sers. 

The frigate Chesapeake, commanded by captain Evans, 
sailed from Boston about the middle of November on a cruize. 
From Boston she ran down by Madeira, the Canary, and Cape 
de Verd Islands; thence to the equator, between longitude 25° 
and 15° W., where she cruized six weeks. She then sailed 
along the coast of South America, and passed within fifteen 
leagues of Surinam. Thence she passed through the wind- 
ward islands to the coast of the United States; near the capes 
of Virginia, and thence along the coast to Boston, where she 
arrived on the 10th of April, after a cruize of 115 days. Dur- 
ing this cruize she took an American brig, sailing under an 
English license, and three British vessels, one of which she 
burnt after taking out the crew and cargo. On the first of 
January, off' the Western Islands, she discovered two large 
sail bearing down on htr, apparently ships of war, and lay too 
until near enough to ascertain that they were a 74 and a fri- 
gate, when she made all sail and escaped. Off* the capes of 
Virginia, about ten days before her arrival, she gave chase to 
a sloop of war, and continued chasing for two davs, when v. 
escaped in the night. 



HIS 1 oil Y OF THE WAR. 5/ 

The Chesapeake continued in Boston harbour until the first 
of June, tlic day of her unfortunate rencontre with the Shannon. 
C'aptain Lawrence of the liortiet had a short time previous 
been appointed to command the Chesapeake, and hardly had 
he arrived at Boston, when the Shannon, commanded by cap- 
tain Broke, appeared off the harbour, with the avowed purpose 
of seeking a combat with her. 

" Stung with the repeated disasters of the British frigates, 
this officer resolved to make :an effort to retrieve them; and 
when he deemed his ship perfectly prepared for that purpose, 
sent a formal challenge to captain Lawrence. 

" ' As the Chesapeake,' his letter began,' appears now ready 
for sea, I request you will do me the favour to meet the vShan- 
non, with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective 
flags. To an officer of your character, it requires some apology 
for proceeding to further particulars. Be assured, sir, that it 
is not from any doubt I entertain of your wishing to close with 
my proposal, but merely to provide an answer to any objection 
that might be made, and very reasonably, upon the chance of 
our receiving unfair support.' After observirjg that commodore 
Rodgers had not accepted several verbal challenges v/hich he 
had given, captain Broke then proceeds to slate very minutely 
the force of the Shannon, and offers to send all British ships 
out of reach, so that ihey might have a fair combat, at any place 
within a certain range along the coast of New England wliicli 
he specified; if more agreeable, he offers to sail together, and 
to warn the Chesapeake, by means of private signals, of the ap- 
proach of British ships of war, till they reach some solitary 
spot — or to sail with a flag of truce to any place out of t!ie 
reach of British aid, so that the flag should be hauled down 
when it was deemed fair to begin hostilities. ' I entreat you, 
sir,' he concludes, 'not to imagine that I am urged by mere 
personal vanity to the wish of meeting the Chesapeake, or that 
X depend only upoa your personal ambition for your acceding 
to this invitation. We have both ^lobler motives. You will 
feel it as a compliment, if I say that the result of our meeting 
may be the most grateful service I can render to my country; 
and. I doubt not that you, equally confident of success, will feel 
convinced that it is only by repeated triumphs in evcu combats, 
that your little navy can now hope to console yf)ur country for 
the loss of that trade it can no longer protect.' 

" The style of this letter, with the exception of the puerilo 
bravado about comnlodor-i Rodgers, is frank and manly; and 
if the force of the Shannon were correctly stated; would hs 
such a challenge as might well be s'ent froiu a brave sca^iuu i'"* 

F 



56 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

a gallant adversary. We, however, are but two well satisfied, 
that captain Broke studiously underrated the number of his 
guns and crew; or that, after his challenge, he must have re- 
ceived additions to both. That the Shannon had more guns 
than the number stated by her commander, we learn from the 
testimony of the surviving officers of the Chesapeake; who 
also assert, that she had three hundred and seventy-six men; 
that she had an officer and sixteen men from the Belle Poule; 
and that the hats of some of her seamen were marked ' Tene- 
dos.' Such as it was, however, this letter, most unfortunately, 
never reached captain Lawrence. If he had received it; if he 
had been thus warned to prepare his ship; if he had had an 
opportunity of selecting his officers, and disciplining his crew; 
if, in short, he had been able to place the Chesapeake on any 
thing like equal terms with the Shannon, the combat might 
h.ave been more bloody — there might have been such an en- 
gagement as has not yet been seen between single ships on the 
ocean; though we cannot suffer ourselves to doubt the result 
of it. But he knew nothing of this challenge — he saw only the 
Shannon riding before him in defiance; he remembeied the 
spirit with which he himself overawed a superior; and he could 
not brook for a moment, that an enemy, which seemed to be 
his equal should insult his flag. Although, therefore, the 
Chesapeake was comparatively an inferior* ship — although his 
first lieutenant was sick on shore— althopgh three of his lieu- 
tenants had recently left her; and of the four who remained, two 
were only midshipmen, acting as lieutenants — although part of 
his crew were new hands, and all of them had lost some of 
their discipline by staying in port — yet, as he would have gone 
to sea in that situation had no enemy appeared, he felt himself 
bound not to delay sailing on that account, and throwing him- 
self, therefore, on his courage and his fortune, he determined 
at once to attack the enemy. It was on the morning of the 1 st 
ot June, 1813, that the Chesapeake sailed out of the harbour of 
Boston to meet the Shannon. As soon as she got under weigh, 
captain Lawrence called the crew together, and having hoisted 
the white flag, with the motto of ' free trade and sailors' rights,* 
made a short address. His speech however, was received with 
no enthusiasm — on the contrary signs of dissatisfaction were 
evident; particularly from a boatswain's mate, a Portuguese, 
who seemed to be at the head of the malecontents; and 
c:omplaints were muttered, that they had not yet received 
their prize-money. Such expressions, at the eve of an action, 
v;e»e but ill-bodings of the result of it; but captain Lawrence, 
TTicrant as he was of the characters of his sailors, and unwilling 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 59 

at such a moment to clamp their spirits by harshness, preserved 
!iis accustomed calmness, and had prize-checks, at once, given 
by the purser to those who had not received them. Whilst 
this scene was passing, the Shannon, observing the Chesapeake 
coming out, bore away. The Chesapeake followed her till 
four o'clock in the afternoon, when she hauled up and fired a 
gun, on which the Shannon hove too. They manoeuvered for 
some time, till, at about a quarter before six, they approached 
within pistol shot and exchanged broadsides. 

" These broadsides were both bloody; but the fire of the 
Shannon was most fortunate in the destruction of .officers. The 
fourth lieutenant, Mr. Ballard, was mortally wounded — the 
sailing-master was killed, and captain Lawrence receivied a mus- 
ket ball in his leg, which caused great pain, and profuse bleed- 
ing, but he leaned on the companion way, and continued to or- 
der and to animate his crew. A second, and a third broadside 
was exchanged, with evident advantage on the part of th« 
Chesapeake; but unfortunately, among those now v. ounded on 
board of her was the first lieutenant, Mr. Ludlow, who was 
carried below — three men were successively shot from the 
helm, in about twelve minutes from the commencement of the 
action; and, as the hands were shifting, a shot disabled her fore- 
sail, so that she would no longer answer her helm, and her an- 
chor caught in one of the after ports of the Shannon, which 
enabled the latter to rake her upper deck. As soon as Law- 
rence perceived that she was falling to leeward, and that by tlie 
Shannon's filling she would fall on board, he. called his board- 
ers and was givingxjrders about ^he foresail when he received 
a musket ball in his body. The bugleman, who should have 
called the boarders, did not do his duty; and at this moment 
commodore Broke, whose ship had suffered so much that he 
was preparing to repel boarding, perceiving from this acci- 
dent how the deck of the Chesapeake was swepr, jumped on 
board with about twenty men. They would have been instant- 
ly repelled; but the captain, the first lieutenant, the sailing 
master, the boatswain, the lieutenant ol marines, the only acting 
lieutenant on the spar-deck, were all killed or disabled. At the 
call of the boarders, lieutenant Cox ran on deck, but just in 
time to receive his falling commander, and bear him below. — < 
Lieutenant Budd, the second lieutenant, led up the boardei's, 
but only fifteen or twenty would follow him, and with these he 
defended the ship till he was wounded and disabled. Llculen- 
ant Ludlow, wounded as he was, hurried upon deck, where he 
soon received a mortal cut from a sabre. The marines who 
were engaged fought with desparate courage; hut they were 



-^ HISTORY Ok' IHE WAii. 

lew in number; too many of them having followed the PorUN 
guese boatswain's mate, who exclaimed it is said, as he skulk- 
ed below,* so much for not paying- men their prize-money.' — 
Meanwhile the Shannon threw on board sixty additional men, 
who soon succeeded in overpowering the seamen of the Chesa- 
peake, who had now no officers to lead or rally them, and took 
possession of the ship; which was not however surrendered 
by any signal of submission, but became the enemy's only be- 
cause they were able to overwhelm ail who were in a condition 
to resist. 

" As captain Lawrence was carried below, he perceived the 
melancholy condition oi the Chesapeake, but cried out,' Don't 
give up the ship.' He was taken down into the ward-room, 
and as he lay in excruciating pain, perceiving that the noise 
above had ceased, he ordered the surgeon to go on deck, and 
tell the officers to fight on to the last, and never strike the co- 
lours. 'They shall wave,' said he, ' while I live.' But it was 
too late to resist or struggle longer; the enemy had already 
possession of the ship. As captain Lawrence's wounds would 
not allow of his removal, he continued in the ward-room, sur- 
rounded by his wounded officers, and, after lingering in great 
pain for four days, during which his sufferings were too acute 
to permit him to speak, or perhaps to think of the sad events 
he had just witnessed, or do more than ask for what his situa- 
tion required, he died on the 5lh of June. His body was wrap- 
ped in the colours of the Chesapeake, and laid on the quarter 
ticck, until they arrived at Halifax, where he was buried with 
the highest military and naval honours; tht British officers for- 
getting in their admiration of his character, that he had been 
but lately their enemy. His pall was supported by the oldest 
captains of the navy then at Halifax, and no demonstration of 
respectful attention was omitted to honour the remains of a 
brave, but unfortunate stranger. 

" \n this sanguinary engagemcrit the Chesapeake lost her 
commander arid forty-seven men killed, and ninety-seven 
wounded, of v»'hom fourteen afterwards died. Among tl«ese 
were lieutenant Ludlow, first lieutenant of the ship, and lieu- 
tenant Ballard, the fourth lieutenant, both excellent officers. 

'* On the part of the Shannon, captain Broke was dangerous- 
ly wounded, though he has since recovered; the first lieuten- 
ant, the purser, captain's clerk, and twenty-three seamen kill- 
ed, and fifty-seven persons wounded, besides captain Broke. 

" The capture of the Chesapeake is to be ascribed v/holly to 
the extraordinary loss of officers (a loss without any precedent 
as f«i.r as we can recollect, in naval history); and to her falling 



HISTORY OF THE WAU. ^\ 

accidentally on board the Shannon. During the three broad- 
sides, while the officers of the Chesapeake were living, and 
she was kept clear of the enemy, the superiority was manifest- 
ly with the Americans. The Chesapeake had received scarce- 
ly any damage, while the Shannon had several shot between 
wind and water, and could with difficulty be kept afloat durin.c^ 
the succeeding night. It was only when accident threw tlu; 
Chesapeake on board the Shannon, when her officers were un- 
able to lead on the boarders, that captain Broke himself, con- 
trary, we believe, to the regulations of the British nuvy, left 
his own ship, and was able, by superior numbers, to overpower 
the distracted crew of the Chesapeake. ■ 

" We have heard many accounts, which we are very reluc- 
tantly compelled to believe, of improper conduct by the Britisli 
after the capture, and of brutal violence offered to the crew of 
the Chesapeake. As, however, some allowances arc due to 
the exasperated passions of the moment, something too to the 
confusion of a bloody and doubtful struggle, we arc unwilling 
to prolong the remembrance of imputations which may be dis- 
proved, and perhaps have been exaggerated. 

" But we should wrong the memory of captain Lawrence, 
we should be unjust to the officers of the American navy, with 
whose glory all the aspiring ambition of the country is so close- 
ly blended, if we omitted any opportunity of giving the last 
and fairest lustre to their fame, by contrasting their conduct 
with that of the enemy, or if we forbear, from any misplaced 
delicacy towards our adversaries, to report circumstances con- 
nected with the fate of the Chesapeake, which throw a broad 
and dazzling light on the generous magnanimity of our coun- 
trymen." 

Our readers cannot have failed to observe the liberality 
which was extended to the officers and crews of the Guerriere, 
Macedonian, and Java, and the still more striking instance of 
the Peacock. " When the Chesapeake was taken by the Shan- 
non, the key of captain Lawrence's store-room was demanded 
of the purser. It was given; but the purser observed at the 
same time, that in the captures of the Guerriere, Macedonian, 
and Java, the most scrupulous regard was paid to the private 
property of the British officers; that captain Lawrence had 
laid in stores for a long cruize; and that the value of them 
would be a great object to his widow and family, for whose use 
he was desirous, if possible, of preserving them. This re- 
quest was not merely declined; it was haughtily and super-«^ 
ciliously i^efused. 

•*' However we may mourn the sufferings of that dav, the loss 

3? 2 



t- HlSIOhl OF 1 HE WAR. 

of the Chesupcake lias not, in o\ir estimation, varied the rela- 
tive standing of the marine of the two countries; nor does it 
abate, in the slightest degree, any of the loftiness of our naval 
pretensions. The contest was wholly unequal in ships, in 
guns, in crews, in officers, in every thing. 

" The Shannon was a better ship; she had not upon her the 
curse of that ill-omined name, the Chesapeake. The Shannon 
was a stronger ship; she mounted twenty-eight eighteen pound- 
ers on the main deck, twenty-two thirty-two pound carronades, 
and two long brass nines or twelves, on the spar deck, and a 
large carronade amidships, in all ffty-two guns^ besides this 
last heavy carronade; while the Chesapeake mounted twenty- 
eight eighteen pounders on the main deck, and twenty thirty - 
two pound carronades, and one eighteen pounder, chase gun, 
on the spar-deck, in all forty-nine guns. 

" The Shannon had a better crew. Besides her complement, 
she had seamen from two other ships. That crew, too, had 
been long at sea; long in the ship; were known; were tried; and 
as commodore Broke sent a challenge, were, of course, m.en 
on whom, if they were not picked for the occasion, he knev.^ he 
cotiid confide. The Chesapeake had on the contrary, in part, 
a new crew, unknown to their officers, not yet knowing their 
places or the ship. The ship had not been more than a few 
hours at sea. and the landsmen and the landswomen had been 
dismissed from her on the very day of the engagement. TJie 
officers, too, although we should be the last to detract from 
ilieir merits, and although the manner in which they fought 
their ship does tliem the highest lionour, the officers wwe 
3oung and f^w in number, and had as yet hardly any opportu- 
iiity of disciplir.ing or knowing their seamen; yet under all 
these disadvantages, the great damage sustained by the Shan- 
r«on, and the great loss of her crew, all which took place before 
the boarding, warrant completely the opinion, that, but for tlie 
accidental loss (^f officers, the victory would have been with 
the Chesapeake."* 

The brig Argus, commanded by lieutenant Allen, sailed from 
New York about the middle of May, having on board Mr. 
Crawford, our minister for France. She arrived at L*Orient 
on the 12th of June, aiid shortly after sailed on a cruize. 

On the 14th of August, being then in St. George's channel 
whtre she had made a number of captures, she was discovered 
by the Pelican sloop of war, which had been despatclied in 



* Port Folio. 



HISTOKY OF THE WAR. 6 ' 

search of her. As soon as Allen discovered the Pelican he 
shortened sail; and the two vessels got alongside about halt' 
past five in the morning, when an action commenced, which 
was kept up with spirit on both sides for three quarters of an 
hour, when, lieutenant Allen being mortally wounded, and 
nearly forty others killed and wounded on board the Argus, 
she struck her flag. On board the Pelican there were only 
two killed and five wounded. 

As the American account of this action has not been re- 
ceived, owing probably to the death of the commander, and as 
the British account is unusually barren, we are not able to state 
any of the particulars. That the Pelican was much superior 
in force, however, there is little room to doubt. She is rated 
at two guns m'ore than the Argus; and it is stated in a London 
paper, that in the year 1797, she beat off a French 44 gun fri- 
gate, after an action of two hours. There is a circumstance 
mentioned in a Cork paper, too, which is totally kept out of 
view in the official account, and which, if true, takes away all 
the honour of the victory, small as it is, from the enemy. " As 
the action closed," says the Cork paper, *' his majesty's ship 
Leonidas, captain Seymour, fell in with them." In Steele's 
List, the Leonidas is rated as a 38 gun frigate. That a sloop 
of war should surrender to a vessel of superior force, when a 
38 gun frigate was close aboard of them, is a circumstance 
surely not to be wondered at. 

A few days after tlie action, lieutenant Allen died of his 
wounds, and was buried at Plymouth with the honours of war. 

Previous to her capture, tiie Argus had taken 19 vessels, 
most of them in St. George's Channel. 

In recording the loss of the Chesapeake and Argus we have 
had to lament the still greater loss of their gallant command- 
ers. We have now to record an event, at the remembrance 
of which, tears for our loss mingle with exultations for our 
success. 

On the first of September, the United States' brig Enter- 
prize, commanded by lieutenant William Burrows, sailed from 
Portsmouth on a cruize. On the morning of the 3d, Burrows 
discovered a schooner, v/hich was chased into Portland har- 
bour, where the Enicrprize was brought to anchor. Having 
received information of several privateers being off Manhagan, 
he weighed anchor and swept out the following morning, and 
stood for that place. Next day a large brig of war was disco- 
vered, to which chase was immerdiately given. The enemy 
fired several guns, and stood for the Enterprize, with four en- 
signs hoisted. After manoeuvering and reconnoitcring for 



64 HISTORY OF THE WAR.. 

some time, for the purpose of discovering the force of the ene- 
my, Burrows, about three in the afternoon, shortened sail, tack- 
ed and ran down, with the intention of bringing her to close 
action. At 20 minutes after three the firing commenced from 
both vessels, within half pistol shot. The action continued 
for about a quarter of an hour, when the Enterprize ranged 
ahead of the enemy, rounded too, and raked her. Shortly after 
the main-top-mast and top-sail yard of the enemy came down. 
The foresail of the Enterprize was then set, and she took a 
position on the starboard bow of the enemy, and continued to 
rake her, until, about 40 minutes after the commencement of 
the action, the enemy ceased firing, and cried for quarters; 
their colours being nailed to the masts, could not be hauled 
down. 

The prize proved to be the British brig Boxer, of 14 guns. 
The number of her crew could not be ascertained, but 64 pri- 
soners were taken, including 17 wounded. Captain Hull, in a 
letter to commodore Bainbridge, describing the state of the 
Boxer when brought into port, says that there was every rea- 
son to believe that there were 100 men on board. On board 
the Enterprize there was only one killed and thirteen wound- 
ed, two of whom died of tljeir wounds. 

Lieutenant Burrows fell in the commencement of the action; 
he, however, refused to be carried below, but, raising his head, 
requested that the flag might never be struck. When the 
sword of the vanquished enemy was presented to the dying 
conqueror, he clasped his hands and said, " I am satisfied; I 
die contented;'' and then, and not till then, would he consent 
to be carried below, where every attention was paid to save his 
life, but in vain. A few hours after the victory he breathed 
his last. — Captain Blythe, the commcinder of the Boxer, also 
fell in the commencement of the action, having received a 
cannon shot through the body. His remains, in company with 
those of Burrows, were brought to Portland, where the two 
commanders were interred, side by side, with military honours. 

The Boxer was so much damaged in her sails, rigging, 
spars, hull, he. as to render it difficult to carry her into port. 
The Enterprize received but trifling injury. On an examina- 
tion of the prize, she was adjudged wholly to be the captors, 
agreeably to law, as a vessel of superior force. 

On the 23d of April, the President frigate, commanded by 
commodore Rodgers, sailed from Boston. On the 30th he took 
his (icparture from President roads, in company with the Con- 
gress, commanded by captain Smith. On the 3d of May, while 
in chase of a British brig of war, near the shoal of George's 



niSTORV OF THE \VAR. 65 

Bank, they passed to windward of three sail, two of Ayhicb» 
from their appearance, and from information previously receiv- 
ed, where supposed to be the La Hogue, 74, the Nymph fri- 
s^ate, and a merchant brig. After getting clear of George's 
Bank they continued along east southwardly, in the direction 
of the southern edge of the Gulf Stream, until the 8th of May, 
when the President parted company with the Congress, the 
latter being in chase of a vessel, which proved to be an Ame- 
rican merchantman. After parting company, Rodgers shaped 
his course, as near as the wind would permit, to intercept the 
enemy's West India commerce passing to the southward of the 
Grand Bank. Not meeting with any thing in this direction ex- 
cept American vessels from Lisbon and Cadiz, he next pur- 
sued a route to the northw^ard, so as to cross the tracks of the 
West India, Halifax, Quebec, and St. John's trade. Not meet- 
ing any thing in this route, however, after reaching the latitude 
of 38 degrees N., he steered to the S. E. towards the Azores, 
oft^ which, in different directions, he continued until the 6th of 
June, without meeting a single enemy's vessel. At this time, 
falling in with an Atierican ship bound to Cadiz, and receiving 
information that she had, fonr days before, passed an enemy's 
convoy from the West Indies, bound to England, Rodgers 
crowded sail to the N. E., and, although disappointed in fall- 
ing in with the convoy, nevertheless made four captures be- 
tween the 9th and 13th of June. 

Being now in the latitude 46° N., and longitude 28° W., 
Rodgers shaped a course that afforded a prospect of falling in 
with vessels bound to Newfoundland from St. George's Chan- 
nel, by the way of Cape Clear, as well as others that might 
pass north about to the northward of Ireland; to his astonish- 
ment, however, in all his route, he did not meet with a single 
vessel, until he made the Sheetland Islands, and even off there 
nothing but Danish vessels, trading to England, under British 
licences. A considerable portion of their provisions and water 
being now expended, it became necessary to replenish these, 
previous to determining what course to pursue next; accord- 
ingly, for this purpose, they put into North Bergen on the 27th 
June; but were not able to obtain any thing but water, there 
being an unusual scarcity of bread in every part of Norway, and 
at the time not more in Bergen than a bare sufficiency for its 
inhabitants for fcur or five weeks. After replenishing his wa- 
ter, Rodgers stretched over towards the Orkney islands, and 
thence towards the North Cape, for the purpose of intercept- 
ing a convoy of twenty-five or thirty sail, which it was said 
would leave Archangel about the middle of July, under the pro- 



6t> HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

tection of two brigs or two sloops of war. In this object, how- 
ever, he was disappointed by a line of battle ship and frigate 
making their appearance off the North Cape on the 19th of Ju- 
ly, just as he was in momentary expectation of meeting the 
convoy. On discovering the ships of war, Rodgers stood to- 
wards them to ascertain their character, when he hauled by the 
wind on the opposite tack to avoid them; but, owing to faint, 
variable winds, calms, and entire day-light, the sun in that lati- 
tude, at that season, appearing at midnight several degrees 
above the horizon, they were enabled to continue the chase up- 
wards of eighty hours; during which time, owing to the differ- 
ent changes of the wind, they were brought quite as near as 
was desirable. 

Disappointed in meeting with the convoy, Rodgers now steer- 
ed to gain the direction of the trade passing out of and into the 
Irish channel. In this position, between the 25th of July and 
2d of August, he made three captures, when finding that the 
enemy had a superior force in that vicinity, he made a circuit 
round Ireland, and then steered for the banks of Newfoundland, 
near which he made two more captures, and by the latter one 
learned that a 74 and a frigate were on the eastern part of the 
bank only a few miles to the westward; he, however, did not 
fall in with them. 

On the 23d of September, to the southward of Nantucket 
shoals, Rodgers fell in with and captured in a very singular 
manner, the British schooner Highflyer, tender to admiral 
Warren. On approaching the schooner she hoisted a private 
signal, which was answered by the President, by a signal which 
fortunately proved to be the British one for that day, on seeing 
which the Highflyer immediately bore up, and was boarded by 
one of the officers of the President in a British uniform. By this 
stratagem commodore Rodgers gained possession of the British 
private signals, and admiral Warren's instructions by which 
was discovered the number of British squadrons on the Ameri- 
can coast, with their force and relative positions. He was thus 
enabled to avoid them, and on the 26th of September arrived 
safely at Newport, Rhode-Island. 

During the cruise, the President captured twelve British 
vessels, three of which were ransomed and dispatched to Eng- 
land as cartels, with 2 1 6 prisoners on parole. The British go- 
vernment, however, refused to sanction the terms of exchange 
entered into and signed by their officers, assigning as the rea- 
son, that " such transactions are inconsistent with the establish- 
ed understanding between the two countries.'* The President, 
on her arrival, had fifty-five prisoners on board. 



tilSTOIlY OF THE WAH. (37 

Tiie Congress, after parting with the President, continued 
her cruise until the 12th of December, when she arrived at 
Portsmouth, N. H. She captured two British brigs often guns 
each, one of which was destroyed, and the other after being 
dismantled, was given up to the prisoners, who were discharg- 
ed on parole, and furnished with provisions, &c. sufficient to 
carry them to^the West Indies. She likewise captured a Bri- 
tish ship laden with wine and potatoes, which was destroyed 
after the greater part of her cargo was taken out. 

After parting with the President, the Congress ran to the 
southward; and crossing the equator, put into Seara, on the 
Brazil coast. Aiter watering, she beat against a strong wind 
and current, up to Fernando de Noronha, where she again wa- 
tered; and then proceeded to the eastward, in hopes to fall in 
tvith some Indiamen. She cruised as far as 18° W. from 6*^ 
S. to 6° N. under easy sail, made the island of St. Pauls; but 
until her return to Fernando de Noronha, which was nearly 
three months, never saw a vessel. She then returned to Seara, 
where she took in a quantity of cassada, jerked beef, &c. and 
ran under two reefed topsails to latitude 44° N., passing near 
Halifax, where she captured a brig, who informed them of Bos- 
f >n being blockaded by a superior force. She accordingly made 
for Portsmouth, where she arrived, with her crew, 410 men, in 
perfect health, having lost but four on the cruise. When the 
men commenced on the jerked beef and cassada, it did not 
agree with them, and about fifty were sick — ^but they soon re- 
covered. Tiie Congress was in perfect order and wanted no 
repairs. She had on board about thirty prisoners on her arrival. 

The Essex frigate sailed from the capes of the Delaware on 
the 25th of October, 1812, on a cruise to the Pacific ocean, 
Letters, however, dated July 2, 1813, were received at the 
navy department about the middle of December following, 
from her commander, captain Porter, at which time he 
was cruizing off the western coast of South America, with 
a fleet of nine armed vessels under his command, eight of 
which were British letters of marque, which he hacl cap- 
tured and fitted out. The first of these vessels which was 
a ship of two guns and twenty-one men, was captured on 
the 29th of April. Two others were then in sight close 
together, about seven miles distant from the Essex; the one 
mounting ten guns, six and nine pounders; the other six 
eighteen pounders, four swivels, and six long blunderbusses, 
mounted on swivels. The wind being light and variable, and 
Confiding greatly in the bravery and enterprize of his officers 
and men. and apprehensive of their escape, from the prevalence 



68 iUSTOKY OF THE WAR. 

of fogs iu that climate, Porter directed the boats of the Essex 
to be armed and manned, and divided into two divisions. Suit- 
able signals were established, and each boat had her particular 
station pointed out for the attack, and every other previous ar- 
irangement was made to prevent confusion. 

The boats, seven in numher, rowed off in admirable order. 
Guns were fired from the enemy to terrify then); they rowed 
up, however, undismayed, under the muzzles of their guns, 
and took their stations for attacking the first ship, and no sooner 
was the American flag displayed, as the signal for boarding, 
and the intention discovered by the enemy, than their colours 
were struck without a shot being fired. They then left a crew 
on board the prize, and took their stations for attacking the 
other vessel, when her flag was also struck, on the first call to 
surrender. Thus were two fine British ships, each pierced 
for twenty gims, worth near half a million of dollars, mounting 
between them sixteen guns, and manned with 55 men, well 
supplied with ammunition and small arms, surrendered without 
the slightest resistance, to seven small open boats, with fifty 
men, armed only with muskets, pistols, boarding axes, and cut- 
lasses. 

On the 26th of March, previous to the capture of any of the 
letters of marque, Porter fell in with the Peruvian corsair ship 
Nereyda, mounting fifteen guns., which had, a few days be- 
fore captured two American whale ships, the crews of v/hich, 
amounting in number to 24 men, were then detained prison- 
ers on board. As they could assign no other motive for the 
capture than that they were the allies of Great Britain, and, as 
such, should capture all American vessels they could fall in 
with, Porter, to prevent in future such vexatious proceeding, 
threw all her armament into the sea, liberated the Americans, 
and dismissed the Nereyda. He then proceeded with all pos- 
sible despatch for Lima, to intercept one of the detained ves- 
sels, which had parted company with the Nereyda only three 
days before, and was so fortunate as to arrive there, and re- 
capture her on the 5th of April, at the moment she was enter- 
ing the port. 

Captain Porter described his crew as enjoying remarkably 
good health and spirits, no symptoms of scurvy having ap- 
peared, although they had been at sea for eight months, with 
the exception of 23 days. The Essex was in prime order, 
with abundant supplies, and two of her consorts were fitted out 
with 20 guns each, and well manned. He mentioned that 
British letters of marque were numerous in those seas, and that 
the American wlraleis had derived much benefit from his cruise 



IllolOKY OF THE WAR. 

The bravery and enterprizc of American seamen have not 
been less conspicuous on board of our privateers than in our 
national vessels. We shall ticre present an account of a few 
of the most conspicuous actions that have taken place. 

In no one action fought during the present war, has there 
been more courage and gallantry displayed than in the attack 
made by the privateer Rolla on the British ship Rio Neuva.— 
The Rolla originally carried four twelve pound carronades in 
her waist, and one double fortified twelve mounted on a pivot. 
In a gale of wind off Madeira, the 4 twelve pounders were 
obliged to be thrown overboard, and only one gun remained; 
with this, however, on the i4th of December, 1812, the Rolla 
attacked the Rio Neuva, mounting 18 guns and 30 men, and 
took her after an action of twenty-five minutes. During the 
action, the men on board the Rolla, animated by the courage 
and conduct of captain Dooley and his officers, evinced a fixed 
determination to take the enemy or perish. When the ship 
struck, the Rolla had ranged up within pistol shot, and was 
preparing to board. 

The privateer schooner Comet, captain Thomas Boyle, 
sailed from Cape Henry, on the 25th of November, 1812, on a 
cruize to the coast of South America. On the 12th of Decem- 
ber, at one in the afternoon, siic discovered four sail standing 
out of Pernambuco, and lay by to give them an opportunity ot 
getting off shore, in order to cut them off. At three, they be- 
ing then about six leagues from the land, she bore up and made 
all sail in chase of them; and at six having discovered one of 
them to be a very large man of war brig, all hands were called 
to quarters, the guns loaded with round and grape shot, the 
deck cleared, and all got ready for action. At seven, being 
then close to the chase, the Comet hoisted her colours, and 
sheered up to the man of war, which had hoisted Portuguese 
colours. The Portuguese then sent his boat on board the Co- 
met, the officer of which informed captain Boyle, that the brig 
was a Portuguese national vessel, mounting twenty thirty-two 
pounders, and 165 men, and that the three others were English 
vessels under his protection, which. he would not suffer to be 
molested; he also mentioned that the English vessels were 
armed and very strong. Boyle having sho\\n him his cop- 
mission, answered, that the brig had no right to protect English 
vessels on the high seas, and that he was determined to cap- 
ture those vessels if he could; that he should be sorry if any 
thing disagreeable took place, but if it did he would not be the 
aggressor; but that he should certahily resist any attempt to 
Dievent his capturing the vessels. The officer having now re- 

G 



70 JllSTOliy OF THE WAK. 

turned 011 board the brig, Boyle hailed her, and distinctly stated 
his intention of immediately attacking the convoy, which con- 
sisted of a ship of 14 guns, and two brigs of 10 guns each, the 
whole force, including the Portuguese, being 54 guns. 

Boyle accordingly made all sail for the English vessels, 
wjiich were close together, and about half past eight, the moon 
shining clear, he hailed the ship, ordering them to back the 
main-top-sails. Little or no answer being given, Boyle, having 
quick way at the time, shot a little ahead, saying that he should 
be along side again in a few minutes, when, if his orders were 
not obeyed, , a broadside would be poured into him. After a 
few minutes he tacke<^, the man of war close after him. He 
then ran alongside the ship, one of the brigs being close to herj 
and opened his broadside upon them both, all the vessels at this 
time carrying a crowd of canvass. From his superior sailing, 
Boyle was frequently obliged to-tack, by which he would have 
received considerable advantage, had he not been closely fol- 
lowed by the man of war, which now opened a heavy fire upon 
him; which was returned by the Comet. Having now the 
whole force to contend with, Boyle kept as close as possible to 
the English vessels, which frequently separated to give the 
man of war an opportunity of giving a broadside. The Comet 
continued the action, sometin\es pouring her broadsides into 
the merchantmen, at others into the man of war, until eleven 
o'clock, when the ship surrendered, being all cut to pieces, 
and Tendered unmanageable, and directly after one of the brigs, 
which was also very much disabled. A boat was now despatch- 
ed to take possession of the brig, but it was forced to return, 
being prevented from passing by the fire of the man of war; 
one of whose broadsides almost succeeded in sinking it. The 
Comet now directed the whole of her fire at the Portuguese, 
who soon sheered off, and was followed for a short distance by 
the Comet, which then returned, and made the third merchant- 
man surrender, she also being cut to pieces. ♦ 

Boyle now took possession of the Bowes, the brig that had 
first surrendered. He also spoke the ship, and ordered the 
captain to follow him, who answered that his ship was in a 
sinking condition, having many shot holes between wind and 
water,' and not a rope but what was cut away; but that he 
would, if possible, follow his orders for his own safety. As 
soon as the Bowes was taken possession of, she received a pass- 
ing broadside from the Portuguese. The moon having now 
set, it became very dark and squally, and the Comet was sepa- 
rated from all the vessels except the man of war, with whom 
for half an hour longer she continued occasionally to exchange 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ' * 

broadsides. At day-light, however, the vessels being found to 
be still in the neighbourhood, the Comet wore close to her 
prize. The man of war then stood down for them; on per- 
ceiving which, Boyle immediately hove about, and stood for 
him, when he also tacked, and made signals for the convoy to 
make the first port. The two merchantmen accordmgly put 
before the wind, accompanied by the Portuguese, by whose as- 
sistance and their own exertions, they succeeded with the ut- 
most difficulty in regaining the harbour of Pernambuco, leav- 
ing the Bowes in possession of thq Comet. 

On the 11th of March 1813, the General Armstrong, a pn- 
vateer schooner, while cruizing off the mouth of Surinam 
river- discovered a sail, which was supposed to be a British 
letter of marque, and immediately bore down on her, with the 
intention of giving her two brordsides and then boarding. Al- 
ter giving her one broadside, and wearing and giving another, 
to their surprise they found they were alongside of a frigate, 
pierced for 14 guns on the main deck, 6 on the quarter-deck, 
and 4 on the forecastle. The wind being light, the privateer 
lay for about ten minutes like a log in the water. During that 
time however, they shot away the frigate's fore-top-sail tie, his 
mizen gaff haulyards, which'brought his colours down, and his 
mizen and main stay, when thinking she had struck, they 
ceased firing; but being soon undeceived, they recommenced 
the action. The frigate lay for a 'few minutes apparently un- 
manageable, iDUt soon getting way, opened such a heavy fire 
as would soon have sunk the schooner, had she not succeeded 
in making her escape by the assistance of her sweeps. In this 
action, which continutjd for 45 minutes, the privateer had six 
men killed and 16 wounded. All the haulyards of her head 
sails were shot aw^y, the foremast and bowsprit one quarter 
cut through, all the fore and main shrouds but one cut away, 
both mainstays and running rigging cut to pieces, a great num^ 
ber of shot through the sails, and several between wind and 
water, which caused the vessel to leak, and a number in the 
hull. While they were getting away from the frigate, she 
kept up a well .directed fire for the foremast and gaff of the 
schooner, but without effect. 

On the 5th of August 1813, the privateer Decatur, being 
on a cruize, discovered a ship and a schooner, the first of whicu 
proved to be the British packet Princess Charlotte, the other 
the British vessel of war, the Dominica. She immediately 
stood towards them, and soon found herself abreast of the 
schooner. Both vessels continued to manoeuvre for two or 
three hours, the Dominica endeavouring to escape, and the 



tz 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



Decatur to board, during which lime several broadsides were 
fired by the former, and a number of shot from the large gun 
of the latter. The Decatur at hist succeeded in boarding the 
Dominica, a number of men passing into her stern from the 
bowsprit. The fire from the artillery and musquetry was now 
terrible, being well supported on both sides. The Dominica, 
however, not being able to disengage herself, dropped along- 
side of the Decatur, and in this position was boarded by her 
whole crew. Fire arms now became useless, the cre\('s fight- 
ing hand to hand with cutlasses, and throwing cold shot; when, 
tlie captain and principal officers of the Dominica being kill- 
ed, and her deck covered with dead and wounded, the British 
colours were hauled down by the conquerors. 

During the combat, which lasted an hour, the Princess 
Charlotte remained a silent spectator of the scene, and as soon 
as it was over, she tacked about and stood to the southward. 
She had sailed from St. Thomas, bound to England, under 
convoy, to a certain latitude, of the Dominica. 

The Decatur was armed with 6 twelve pound carronades, and 
one eighteen pounder on a pivot, with 103 men. Ker loss in 
the action was three killed and sixteen wounded, one of whom 
afterwards died. The Dominica had 12 twelve pound carron- 
ades, two long sixes, one brass four pounder, and one thirty- 
two pound carronade on a pivot, with 83 men. She had dL3 
killed, and 47 wounded, five of whom afterwards died of their 
wounds. Perhaps this engagement has been the most bloody, 
and the loss in J^iiled and wounded on the part of the enemy, 
in proportion to the number engaged, perhaps the greatest, 
of any action to be found in the records <:»r iru'al warfare. The 
surviving officers of the Dominica attribute the loss of their 
vessel to the superior skill of the Decatur's crew in the use 
of musquetry, and the masterly manoeuvering of that vessel, 
by which their carriage guns were rendered nearly useless. — 
The captain was a young man of not more than 25 years of 
age; he had been wounded early in the action by two musket 
balls in the left arm, but he fought till the last moment, refus- 
ing to surrend'er his vessel, although he was urged by the fevy 
survivors of his crew to do so; declaring his determination not 
to survive her loss. 

The Decatur arrived at Charleston on the 20th of August 
with her prize. The surviving officers of th« Dominica spoke 
in the highest terms of approbation of the humanity and atten- 
tion displayed towards them by the officers and crew of the 
Decatur. 

Towards the beginning of January general Tupper having 



HISIORY OF THE WAR. i\J 

ra a manner paved the way by his expeditloiiS, general Wii> 
Chester proceeded down the iMmmi iVom Fort Defumce to the 
Rapids, with the force under his command. Ou his arrival 
there, he was strongly urged by the inhabitants of Frcnchtown, 
on the river Raisin, to protect them from tlie violence and out- 
rage of the horde of savages by whom they were surrounded, 
and to wliose brutalities they were daily exposed. Yielding to 
the call of humanity, Winchester, on the 1 7th of January, by 
the unanimous advice of his officers, but, it appears, without 
consulting general Harrison, detached a body of about 750 men, 
under general Lewis to their relief. 

On the following day, when within three miles cf French- 
town, information was received that a body of British and In- 
dians were encamped at that place, and that they had received 
notice of their approach. The troops were accordingly arrang- 
ed and directed to prepare for action, and then proceeded with- 
in a quarter of a mile of the enemy, who immediately com- 
menced a fire with a howitzer, from which, however, no inju- 
ry was received. The line of battle being instantly formed, 
the whole detachment was ordered to advance across the river 
on the ice; in which they succeeded, though it was in many 
places extremely slippery. The left v;iiig and centre were 
then ordered to possess themselves of the Jiouses and picket- 
ing about which the enemy had collected, and where they had 
placed their cannon. This order was executed in a few min- 
utes. Both battalions advanced amidst an incessant shower of 
bullets and succeeded in dislodging the enemy, neither the 
picketing nor the fencing over which they had to pass check- 
ing their progress. 

The right wing fell ia with the enemy at a considerable dis- 
tance to the right, and pursued them a mile to the woods, 
where they made « stand with their howitzer and small arme> 
covered by a chain of enclosed lots and a group of houses, with 
a thick brushy wood full of fallen timber in their rear. Lewis 
now orderea the left and centre to possess themselves of the 
wood on the left, and to move up towards the main body of the 
enemy as fast as practicable, in order to divert their attention 
from the right. At the moment that the left and centre com- 
menced their fire, the right advanced, and the enemy being 
soon driven from the fences and houses, both parties entered 
the wood together. The fight now became close and ex- 
tremely hot on the right wing, the enemy concentrating thei; 
forces on that side, in order to force the line. They were, 
however, still obliged to retreat, although slowly, the Ameri- 
cans being ^much fatigued, and were driven in the. whole, no: 

G 2 



*^ 21IST0RT( OF THK WAR. 

3ess than two miles, every foct of the way under a continua. 
charge. 

The battle lasted froin three in the afternoon till dark, when 
the detachment was drawn off in good order, and encamped at 
th^ place which the enemy had first occupied. 

The force of the enemy in this affair has never been exactly 
ascertained; but from the best information, there were 80 to 100 
British and 400 Indians. The number of their killed and 
wounded is likewise unknown, as they were enabled to carry 
off all but those left on the field where the battle commenced, 
which was about fifteen; but from the blood, the trails of bodies 
dragged off, and the reports of the people who lived near the 
place, the slaughter must have been great. One Indian and 
two of the Canadian militia were taken prisoners. A quantity 
of public stores was also taken. The loss of the Americans 
■was twelve killed and fifty-five wounded. 

On the 20th, general Winchester joined the detachment, 
with a reinforcement of 250 men. 

Meanwhile colonel Proctor, who commanded at Detroit, 
hearing of the approach of the Americans, advanced to meet 
them with a body of 1500 Indians and British, 300 of whom 
were regulars. On the night of the 21st he discovered the 
American detachment, and early next morning commenced an 
; ttack on their lines. The attack commenced at 6 in the morn- 
ing, by a heavy fire of musquetry, assisted by six field pieces. 
The main body of the Americans were stationed within pick- 
. ts on the left; a smaller force unprotected occupied the right, 
who gallantly sustained the shock for a quarter of an hour, 
•vhent4iey began to give ground for the plirpose of forming in 
• situation more favourable for their fire, and less exposed to 
•11 at of the enemy. At this moment Winchester arrived at the 
]ilace of conflict, his quarters having been at the distance of 
'hrce or four hundred yards from the camp, and his attention 
V, as immediately directed to rally the retreating party. This 
letreat, however, being discovered by the enemy, the whole 
Indian force, together with a portion of the militia, bore down 
•ipon them with retloubled violence, and by the superiority of 
their numbers, and the severity of their fire, prevented their 
forming. After a shqrt conflict, in which they suffered severe- 
ly, all that survived, were made prisoners. 

The left who were stationed within the pickets, maintained 
their ground for several hours, and repulsed the British regu- 
lars, in three successive charges, with great slaughter. About 
1 1 o'clock, however, Winchester was brought in as a prisoner 
to this part of tiie field, and perceiving that resistance was in 



HISTOIIY OF THE WAH. 75 

vain, and influenced by the threat of their beini^ abandoned to 
savage fury unless they instantly surrendered, he acceded to a 
capitulation, and sent a fiaglo the pickets to inform them they 
were prisoners. 

General Harrison was at Lower Sandusky, when he received 
the intelligence of Lewis having advanced to the river Raisin, 
and fearing that he might be overpowered, he immediately set 
out for the Rapids, which he found that Winchester had just 
left with the reinforcement. When the news of Winchester's 
disaster reached Harrison, he was about three miles above the 
Rapids, with 360 men. He immediately ordered them to pre- 
pare to march, and set out with his staff to overtake a detach- 
ment of 300 men that had set out that morning for the river 
Raisin. He soon overtook them; bat before the troops that he 
had left came up, it was ascertained that the defeat was com- 
plete, and it was the unanimous opinion of the officers that the 
detachment should return. A hundred and seventy of the 
most active men, however, were sent forward with directions 
to proceed as far as possible to assist those who were fortunate 
enough to escape. These, however, were but few; the snow 
was so deep that the fugitives were entirely exhausted in run- 
ning a few miles, those that did get off effected it by turning 
down to the lake, and secreting themselves. There were not 
more than 40 or 50 that got a mile from the scene of action, 
and the greater part of these were overtaken. 

Though the resistance on the part of the Americans was 
put an end to by the capitulation concluded by Winchester, we 
regret to say, that the most tragical events of this disastrous 
day are still to be recorded, events which affix an indelible 
stain on the arms of the British. After the battle the British 
returned to Maiden with their prisoners, except about 50 or 60 
wounded, who were not able to march. A few of the Indians 
remained behind, who, being joined next morning by about 
50 more .from Maiden, immediately commenced a massacre of 
the wounded Americans, and afterwards set fire to the houses 
in which they had been left, and consumed their remains. The 
same day the Indians massacred a number of their prisoners, 
who had not been wounded, whose remains they would not suf- 
fer to be interred, but left them above ground, where they were 
torn to pieces and devoured by hogs- These horrid outrages 
are but too well substantiated, not only by the inhabitants of 
Frenchtown, but by some of the officers who had the good for- 
tune to escape, by being purchased from the savages. Great 
indignities were likewise inflicted on a surgeon and his two 
companions, who, but a few days after the battle, had been des- 



76 ^ HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

patched by Harrison 3¥ith a flag of truce, to attend to the 
wounded. One of them was killed by the Indians, and the 
others robbed of the money with which they had been entrust- 
ed by the general, for the relief of the most pressing wants of 
the wounded. After suffering many indignities, not only from 
the Indians but from the British, under the flimsy pretext oi 
their using the flag only as a cover,* they were at length set 
at liberty at Montreal, whither they had been carried and im- 
prisoned. 

On the 23d of January, the day after the surrender of Win- 
chester, Harrison retreated to Carrying river, about midway 
between Sandusky and the Miami. In the following month he 
again advanced to the Rapids, where he constructed a fort, 
which in honour of the governor of Ohio, was named Fort 
Meigs. This fort contains about nine acres of ground, nearly 
in an octagon form. At each corner is a strong block-house, 
with cannon planted so as to rake each line, and command every 
elevated point near the fort. Between the block-houses are 
strong picketings fifteen feet in height, against which abreast- 
work of clay was thrown up on both sides, and in addition to 
this, several long batteries were erected, which were well sup- 
plied with cannon. 

The term of service of a large portion of the militia in Har- 
rison's army having expired, 1200 men were called out by the 
governor of Kentucky, and despatched under general Green 
Clay to supply their place. They left Cincinnati, their place 
of rendezvous, in the beginning of April, and arrived near 
Fort Meigs on the 4th of May, which they learnt was beseig- 
ed by a large force of British and Indians, under general Proc- 
tor. 

. Proctor had set out for Fort Meigs with 1000 British and 
] 200 Indians, about the middle of April, with the expectation 
of capturing it before the arrival of Harrison's reinforcements 
and supplies; but owing to incessant and h^plavy rains, he was 
not able to open his batteries before the first of May. A brisk 
firing vvas kept up on both sides until the fifth, when a small 
party of general Clay's detachment arrived, with information 



* General Harrison in his oj^lciai dispatch^ states^ that the 
surgeon ivas furnishtd with a letter addressed to any British 
officer he might meet^ describing the character in •ivhich he ivent^ 
and the object for 'which he rjas sent, an open letter to general 
Winchester^ and written instructions to himself all of which he 
was directed to show to the Jirst officer he nut with. 



iiXSTORY OF THE WAR. 77 

of the rest being close at. hand. Orders were immediately 
dispatched to Clay, to proceed down the river in his boats, to 
land 800 men on the left bank of the river, who should imme- 
diately attack the enemy's batteries, and spike their cannon, 
and the remainder on the right bank, who would be aided by a 
sortie of the garrison. The plan was successfully executed, 
the cannon were spiked, but unfortunately, instead of returning 
across the river to the fort, they pursued the flying enemy to 
the woods where they were surrounded, and the greatest por- 
tion tak^n prisoners. A great part of the baggage was also 
taken in the boats by the Indians. ^ 

Notwithstanding the unfortunate issue of this affair, how- 
ever. Fort Meigs was relieved. Proctor, being deserted by the 
Indians, whom their chiefs could not prevent returning to their 
villages, as Is their custom after any battle of consequence, 
with tlaeir prisoners and plunder, made a precipitate retreat on 
the 9th of May, having previously secured their ordnance on 
board a sloop. 

No event of consequence took place on the New York fron- 
tier during the winter. The opposing armies being divided 
by a barrier of ice, not sufficiently strong to allow of the trans- 
portation of artillery, peace was only disturbed by a few petty 
incursions, which each party justified by the plea of retaliation. 

On the 6th of February, captain Forsythe, the commanding 
officer at Ogdensburg, on the St. Lawrence, received informa- 
tion that several men who had deserted from the opposite 
shore, on the ice, had been taken on the American side by a 
party of British, and carried off and confined in the jail at 
I3,rockville. 

In consequence of this instrusion, as it was deemed, Forsythe 
the same evening crossed over with about 200 militia and rifle- 
men, for the purpose of retaking the prisoners, and capturing 
the military stores at Brockville. On approaching the Canada 
shore, a flanking company was detached above, and another 
below the town, to secure all the passes, to prevent informa- 
tion being communicated to the country. Before the main 
force reached the shore they were fired at by the centinels, 
but, instead of returning it, they rushed through the main street 
to the jail, which was instantly carried, the prisoners liberat- 
ed, and then the magazine was secured. The troops in the 
town were completely surprised. One major, three captains, 
three lieutenants, one surgeon's mate, and forty-two privates, 
together with their arms, besides 130 rifles and muskets cap- 
tured by the British at Detroit, and several casks of powder 
and fixed ammunition, were secured and broug^ht off/ Perfect 



7S ^ * HISTORY OF THE WAR. Al 

oi'der was observed by the officers and men, scrupulous respect 
paid to private property, and no injury was done to any indivi- 
dual. Although a severe fire was kept up from the houses as 
the Americans advanced tt the jail, there were none killed and 
but one wounded. 

The following evening a party of 46 Indians, headed by a 
British officer, crossed over from Prescott, a village in Canada, 
a mile and a half above Ogdensburg, for the purpose of captur- 
ing a picket guard of nine men, belonging to Forsythe's com- 
pany. They succeeded in taking the centinel on post, and then 
attacked the guard, but were repulsed by their steady bravery, > 
aided by their advantageous position. The succeeding evening 
15 or 20 American volunteers again crossed, and took a lieute- 
nant and two men, together with 15 or 20 stand of arms. 

On the morning of the 22d of February, the British crossed 
over in considerable foixre, and succeeded in capturing Og- 
densburg. Forsythe, with a force of less than half that of the 
British, effected his retreat to Black* Lake in a masterly man- 
ner. Considerable alarm for the safety of Sackett*s Harbour 
was excited by this event, and immediate measures were taken 
for reinforcing it. No attempts were made, however, at fur- 
ther conquest. The British shortly after retired across the St. 
Lawrence. 

The ice having disappeared on Lake Ontario about the mid- 
dle of April, the look-out boat Growler sailed from Sackett's 
Harbour on the 19th to reconnoitre the lake and immediate 
pre'parations were made for an embarkation of troops for the 
invasion of Canada. The troops, to the number of 1700, un- ^ 
der the command of general Dearborn, were embarked by the 
23d, but the weather proving stormy, the fleet did not sail till 
the 25th. 

On the morning of the 27th they arrived off York, the capi- 
tal of Upper Canada, and left the fleet, having taken a position 
to the south and westward of the principal fort, and as near . 
the shore as possible; the debarkation of the troops commenced 
about 8, and was completed about 10 in the forenoon. The 
place fixed on for landing was a clear field, the^scite of the old 
French fort Tarento, but the wind blowing heavy from the east- 
ward the boats fell to leeward, by which they were exposed to 
a galling fire from the enemy, who had taken a position in a 
thick wood, near where the troops were obliged to land. This 
circumstance lik^ivise prevented the fleet from covering the 
landing. The cooi intrepidity of the officers and men, however, 
overcame every obstacle. 

The nflemen under Forsythe first landed, under a heavy fire 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 79 

from the enemy, who had collected all their force at this point, 
consisting of 700 regulars and militia, and 100 Indians com- 
manded by general Sheaffe in person. The contest was sharp 
and severe for about half an hour, w^en about 700 or 800 of the 
Americans having landed, commanded by general Pike, and 
the remainder of the troops pushing for the shore, the enemy 
retreated to their works, leaving a number of killed and wound- 
ed on the field. As soon as the troops were landed, the schoo- 
ners were directed to take a position near the forts*, in order 
that the attack upon them by the army and navy ijnight be si- 
multaneous. 

Pike, having formed the troops on the ground originally in- 
tended for their landing, advanced to the batteries, which now 
opened their fire; which was returned from the schooners, that 
had beat up to a position within 600 yards of the principal fort. 
The troops were led in the most gallant manner by general 
Pike, who carried two redoubts, and was approaching the prin- 
cipal work, when the enemy having previously laid a train, 
blew up his magazine, by which a great number of the troops 
were killed and wounded, and, among the former, the ever to 
be lamented general Pike. VVhen the fall of Pike was made 
known to general Dearborn, he landed and took the command 
of the troops. 

As soon as the magazine was blown up, the British set fire to 
their naval stores and a ship on the stocks; and then the regu- 
lars with Sheaffe at their head, made a precipitate retreat from 
the town. By two in the afternoon the American flag was 
substituted for the British, and by four the troops were in 
peaceable possession of York, a capitulation having been agreed 
on with the militia commanding officer, by which the town, 
stores, and nearly 300 militia were surrendered. 

The total loss in killed on this occasion was, in battle 14 and 
by explosion 38; w^ounded in battle 32, by explosion 23-2, 
^. ,The loss acknowledged by the British in their official ac- 
count is: killed 62, wounded 34,. wounded and prisoners 43, 
prisoners 10, and missing 7. 

- This loss of killed, wounded, and prisoners, however, must 
only include the regulars, as 300 militia were surrendered in 
I he town. 

The day after the capture of York was employed in burying 
ihe dead. The public buildings, barracks, &c. were then des- 
troyed, together with the military stores that could not be 
brought away, and by the first of May the town was entirely 
evacuated, the militia prisoners parolled, and the troops em- 
barked; but owing to contrary winds, the fleet did not sail till 



80 HISTORY OF THE Vi'Ali. 

thfe 8th, On the afternoon of the same day they arrived at Four 
Mile Creek, below Fort Niagara, where the troops and public 
property were landed, and, on the 10th Chauncey again sailed 
for Sackett's Harbour for j^einforcements. The day previous 
to his depalture, two schooners, with 100 picked men, sailed 
for the head of the lake to seize a quantity of public stores. — 
The stores were found to be guarded by about 80 regulars, 
who were repulsed, the stores brought away, the public build- 
ings burnt, and the expedition returned to Fort Niagara with- 
out loss. » 

Chauncey arrived at Sackett*s Harbour on the 13th of May, 
and having received 350 troops on board, again sailed on the 
2^2d, and arrived near Fort Niagara on the 25th, where the 
troops were landed. A council was immediately held by gen- 
eral Dearborn, for the purpose of making arrangements for im- 
mediately passing to the opposite shore. Next day Chauncey 
reconnoitered the position for landing the troops, and at night 
sounded the shore, and placed buoys to point out the stations 
for the small vessels. He then took on board of the Madison, 
Oneida, and Lady of the Lake all the heavy artillery, and as 
many troops as could be stowed. 

On the 27th, at three in the morning, the signal was made 
for the fleet to weigh, and before four the remainder of the 
troops were embarked on board of boats, which were directed 
to follow the fleet. The schooners were judiciously placed in 
positions to silence the enemy's batteries, and cover the land- 
ing of the troops, within musket shot of the shore. In ten mi- 
nutes after they opened on the batteries, they were complete- 
ly silenced and abandoned. 

The troops then advanced in three brigades, and landed near 
a fort which had been silenced, at Two Mile creek. Immedi- 
ately on their landing, the enemy, who had been concealed in a 
ravine, advanced in great force to the edge of the bank, in order 
to charge them; but the schooners opened so well directed and 
tremendous a fire of grape and cannister, that they were soon 
obliged to retreat. The troops formed as soon as they landed 
and immediately ascended the bank, and charged and routed 
the enemy in every direction, the schooners still keeping up a 
constant and well-directed fire. Tlie British now re-entered 
Fort George, and set fire to their magazines, after which they 
jtiQved oft" rapidly towards Queenstown, and were pursued 
by the light troops for several miles. The main body, how- 
ever, having been under arms from one in the morning, were 
too much exhausted for further pursuit. They returned to 
Fort George, of which they had quiet possession jjy twelve 
oVJock. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 81 

On this occasion we find the first mention made of captain 
Perry, the hero of lake ]'2ric. He volunteered his services to 
commodore Chauncey, and rendered great assistance in arrang- 
ing and superintending the debai^ation of the troops. He was 
present at every point where he could be useful, under showers 
of musquetry, but fortunately escaped unhurt. I'lie next day he 
was despatched to Black Rock, with fifty«five seamen, to pre- 
pare and take the command of the squadron fitting out there. 

The loss of the Americans in capturing Fort George, was 
39 killed and 111 wounded. The British lost 108 killed and 
278 prisoners, of whom 163 were wounded. The number of 
militia parolled by general Dearborn was 507. 

The day after the capture of the fort, general Lewis marched 
Avith Chandler's and Winder's brigades, and the light artillery, 
dragoons, and riflemen, in pursuit of the British, by the way of 
Queenstown. Information had been received that they had 
made a stand on the mountain, at a place called the Beaver 
Dam, where they had a depot of provisions and stores, and that 
they had been joined by 300 regulars from Kingston and were 
calling in the militia. Dearborn therefore was in hopes thatj 
confiding in the strength of his position, the enemy would 
await an action, by which- an opportunity would be afibrded to 
cut oft' his retreat. In this expectation, however, he was disap- 
pointed. The troops at Fort Erie blew up their magazine, and 
joined the main body at Beaver Dam, who then broke up and 
retreated along the mountains towards the head of Lake On- 
tario. The same evening Fort Erie was taken possession of 
by a party from the opposite shore, and Lewis, finding thatth^; 
enemy had made their escape, returned to Fort George. 

Dearborn, still in hopes of being able to cut oft' the retreat 
of the enemy, on the 1st of June detaclied general Winder with 
his brigade, and one regiment from Boyd*s brigade, along the 
-lake shore. On the 3d general Chandler followed with the re- 
mainder of Boyd's brigade. The British general, however, 
anticipated the blow, by attacking the American a^^iiy before 
day on the morning of the 6th. Unfortunately, although tiie 
American loss was but small, and the enemy, whose force was 
-very inferior, driven from the field, yet both the generals, 
Chandler and Winder, were taken prisoners. In this attack 
the Americans lost two generals and several other ofticers, but 
a greater number of prisoners were lost by the enemy. 

Dearborn received the intelligence of this afiair late in the 
same evening, and immediately despatched general Lewis to 
take the command of the troops. He arrived and took the 
command in the afternoon of the 7th. The British likewise 

H 



82 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

despatched a messenger to sir James Yeo, who was off York 
with the British fleet, with orders to co-operate in the attack 
on the Americans. Lewis found the army encamped at the 
Forty Mile Creek, on a plain of about a mile in width, ten miles 
in the rear of the ground where it had been attacked, its right 
flank resting on the lake, and its left on a creek which skirts 
the base of a perpendicular mountain of a considerable height. 

Lewis had scarcely arrived at the camp before the hostile 
fleet hove in sight. It did not approach near enough before 
dark, however, to enable them to ascertain with certainty whe- 
ther it was Yeo's or Chauncey's squadron. In this state of un- 
certainty, the army lay on their arms all night, and at break of 
day struck their tents, when the hostile fleet was discovered 
abreast of them, ^bout a mile from the shore. About 6, it be- 
ing a dead calm, the enemy towed in shore a large schooner, 
which on her approach, opened her fire on the boats which the 
army had employed for the transportation of their baggage and 
camp equipage, which then lay on the beach. As soon as her 
object was perceived, four pieces of artillery were sent down 
to the shore, and captain Totten of the engineers was ordered 
to construct a furnace for heating shot, which was prepared 
and in operation in less than 30 minutes, and the schooner was 
soon compelled to retire. . 

A party of Indians now made their appearance on the brow 
of the mountain, (which being perfectly bald, exhibited them 
to view), and commenced a fire on the camp. They were 
quickly dislodged, however, by a small party under the com- 
mand of lieutenant Eldridge. The Americans lost not a man 
by the attacks of the fleet and Indians. 

Sir James L. Yeo now sent on shore an ofiicer with a flag, 
demanding a surrender of the army, it being invested with sa- 
v-ages in its rear, a fleet in its front, and a powerful army on its 
flank. To this demand general Lewis only answered, that " the 
message was too ridiculous to merit a reply.'* 

Between 7 and 8 o'clock the four waggons that were with 
the army were loaded with the sick, and with ammunition; the 
camp equipage and baggage were put in the boats, and 700 men 
were detached to proceed in them for their protection. By 
some irregularity, however, the boats, induced probably by the 
stillness of the morning, put ofi* before the detachment reached 
the «hore, and they had not proceeded above three miles, when 
a breeze sprung up, which enabled an armed schooner to over- 
haul them. Some of the boats, however, kept on and escaped; 
the others were run to the shore and deserted, twelve of whic-h 
V, ere lost, prir-cipally loaded with baggage. At 10 o*clock the 



HISTORY OF the; WAR. 83 

army was put in motion, and reached Fort George with the 
loss only of a few stragglers, who were picked up by the mi- 
litia and Indians. 

Shortly after this affair, the American troops concentrated 
at Fort George, having evacuated Fort Erie, and the remain- 
der of the Niagara frontier. 

On the evening of the 23d of June, Dearborn despatched 
lieutenant-colonel Bcerstler, with 570 men, to Beaver Dam, a 
few miles beyond Queenstown, to attack and disperse a body 
of the enemy, who had collected there for the purpose of pro- 
curing provisions, and harrassing those of the inhabitants who 
were considered friendly to the United States. The force of 
the enemy was understood to be about 80 regulars, 1 30 or 200 
militia, and from 50 to 60 Indians. 

About 8 next morning, when within about two miles of Bea- 
ver Dam, Boerstler was attacked from an ambuscade, but soon 
drove the enemy some distance into the woods He then re- 
tired into a clear field, whence he immediately despatched an 
express for a reinforcement, stating that he would maintain his 
position till it arrived. Three hundred men were instantly 
marched to his relief. They were, however, too late; for on 
arriving at Queenstown they received authentic intelligence of 
the surrender of the whole detachment, and accordingly re- 
turned to camp. 

The British account of this affair states that the detachment 
to which Boerstler surrendered was but small, the Indians be- 
ing the only force actually engaged; but that his positioa was 
surrounded by woods, which he was led to believe was occu- 
pied by a superior force. 

While the American army was thus employed at Fort George, 
several enterprises were undertaken by the British. On the 
night of the 27th of May, a force of upwards of 1000 men, cin- 
der sir George Prevost, were embarked at Kingston on board 
the British squadron, and in open boats, and immediately sailed 
for Sackett's Harbour. Next morning they were observed by- 
lieutenant Chauncey, who commanded the small naval force 
remaining there, the principal part of the American squadron 
being engaged at Fort George; he immediately sailed into 
the harbour firing alarm guns. The alarm being immediately 
communicated, guns were likewise fired from the alarm posts, 
iR order to bring in the militia, and instant meatiures were 
taken to resist the attack. 

No attempt, however, was made to land on the 28th, the at- 
tention of the enemy being drawn off, at the moment when all 
was prepared for landing, by the appearance of a Heel of Ame- 



■^- HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

. iCan barges passing from Oswego for SackeU*s Harbour. The 
barges of the enemy were immediately despatched to cut them 
off, and succeeded in taking 12; the troops, however had pre- 
viously succeeded in landing and gaining the woods, and came 
into Sackett's Harbour the same evening. The remaining 
seven boats outsailed the enemy's barges, and got safe into port. 
It is presumed that the landing was now put off till next morn- 
ing, under the expectation of cutting off more barges, as the 
fleet hauled their wind and stood into South Bay, and the arm- 
ed barges were despatched, apparently in order to waylay them. 

During the night a considerable militia force came in, and 
were stationed on the water side, near Horse Island, on which 
was placed a small body of Albany volunteers. The moment 
it was light, the enemy's squadron was perceived in line be- 
tween Stony Point and Horse Island, and shortly after troops 
were landed on the latter, from thirty-lhrce large boats, under 
cover of their gun-boats. 

General Brown, who commanded the post, had directed that 
the volunteers should retreat across the neck which joins Horse 
Island to the main land, in case qf the enemy landing therc^ 
which they accordingly did, and joined the militia under his 
command, amounting to between four and five hundred men. 
The enemy havijig landed and passed to the main land, were 
marching to thp-town, when they received the fire of the volun- 
teers and militia, which somewhat checked their progress. — 
Unfortunately, however, the militia, totally unacquainted with 
military discipline, after giving the first fire, rose from their 
cover and fled to the woods. The handful of volunteers, thus 
losing their support, were likewise forced to retreat, but being- 
joined by a few regulars from the tov/n, succeeded in rallying 
a portion of the militia, and, by the aid of the fire from the 
fort, soon forced the enemy to withdraw to their ships. Un- 
fortunately, the officer who was entrusted with the care of the 
navy barracks and store-houses, who had been instructed to 
fire them in case of the enemy proving victorious, mistaking 
the flight of the militia for a complete repulse, set them on 
fire, and they were totally consumed. 

The American loss in this attack was twenty-one killed and 
eighty-four wounded, of the volunteers and regulars, and twen- 
ty-six missing. Of the militia there were twenty-five killed, 
wounded, and missing. Of the enemy, twenty-nine were found 
dead in the field, and twenty-two wounded, and thirty-five 
were made prisoners; in addition, many were killed in the boats 
while effecting their landing; a number were likewise carried 
off the field by the enemy, previous to the commencement of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR- 85 

iiis retreat. In the British official account, their loss is stated 
as follows, viz: Killed forty -eight, wounded one hundred and 
ninety-five, wounded and missing, sixteen. 

Commodore Chauncey returned to Siickett's Harbour on the 
1st of June, from Fort George, where he was compelled to re- 
main for near two months, until the new vessel, the General 
Pike, was ready for sea, as the enemy's fleet was now consi- 
derably superior in force. 

Meanwhile the British lorded it over the lake. On the 16th 
cf June their fleet appeared off the village of Sodus, where a 
quantity of provisions was deposited. The militia of the neigh- 
bourhood were instantly called to arms, and the following day 
arrived in considerable force. In the mean while, the enemy 
having disappeared, the provisions were removed from the 
warehouses on the water's edge to a small distance in the edge 
of the woods, and on the 19th the militia were discharged ex- 
cepting a small number as a guard. Before evening of the 
same day, however, the fleet again appeared. The alarm was 
instantly given, and expresses sent after the discharged mili- 
tia, who immediately returned, but not in time to save the 
place. — The enemy having landed, and finding that the great- 
er part of the provisions had been removed, set fire to all the 
valuable buildings in the place, which were consumed with 
their contents. 

The next day the fleet appeared off Fort Oswego, and made 
several attempts to land troops, but each time returned on see- 
ing the American troops ready to meet them on the shore. 

Another attempt was made on Sackett's Harbour on the 
night of the 2d of July, by a considerable force in open boats, 
headed by sir James Yeo. This scheme being discovered by 
a deserter, commodore Chaimcey as soon as possible got un- 
der way to intercept their retreat. The British, however dis- 
covered the desertion and decamped some time before the 
commodore could reach their place of landing. 

On the morning of the 11th of July, 250 British regulars 
crossed the Niagara river, and landed a little below Black 
Rock. On moving towards that place, they were discovered 
by about 200 militia who instantly fled. The enemy then set 
fire to the barracks, block-houses Sec. spiked several pieces 
of cannon, and took a quantity of flour and salt, and four small 
field pieces. While engaged in getting off the property, they 
were attacked by a force of )00 regulars, 130 militia and vol^ 
unteers and 20 or 30 Indians, who had come down from Buf- 
faloe, who poured in upon them a successful fire, by which a 
considerable number were killed, nine of whom werelqft dea,ti 

H 2 



^t> HISIORY or IHE V/AK, 

on the shore, besides a captaui mortally wounded. Fifteen 
prisoners also were taken. They succeeded, however, in car- 
rying off the property. The loss of the Americans was one 
killed and three wounded, two of whom afterwards died. 

Nor were the British inactive upon Lake Erie. After their 
retreat from Fort Meigs in the beginning of May, several 
tlireatening ilntovements were made from the lake at Fort Meigs, 
Lower Sandusky, Cleveland and Erie. No serious attempt 
was made, however, on any of these posts, until the first of 
August, when a combined force of the enemy, amounting to at 
least 500 regulars and seven or eight hundred Indians, under 
the immediate command of general Proctor, made its appear- 
ance before Lower Sandusky. As soon as the general had 
made such a disposition of his troops as would cut off the re- 
treat of the garrison, he sent colonel Elliot, accompanied by 
major Chambers, v»'ith a flag, to demand the surrender of the 
fort, stating that he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood, 
which he should probably not have in his power to do, should 
he be reduced to the necessity of taking the place by storm. 

The commander of the fort was major Croghan, a youth of 
21 years of age. His answer was that he was determined to 
defend the place to the last extremity, and that no force, how- 
ever large, should induce him to surrender it. So soon as the 
flag returned, a brisk fire was opened upon the fort, from the 
i.',un-boats in the river, and from a five and a half inch howitzer 
on shore, which was kept up with little intermission through- 
out the night. 

At an early hour the next morning, three sixes, which had 
been placed during the night within 250 yards of the pickets, 
began to play, but with little effect. About 4 in the afternoon, 
discovering that the fire from all the guns was concentrated 
against the north western angle of the fort, Croghan became 
confident that the object was to make a breach, and attempt to 
storm the works at that point. He therefore ordered out as 
iuany men as could be employd for the purpose of strength- 
ening that part, which was so effectually secured by means of 
bags of flour, sand, Sec. that the picketing suffered little or no 
injury; notwithstanding which, about 500 of the enemy, havmg 
formed in close column, advanced to assault the works at the 
expected point, at the same time making two feints on other 
parts of the fort. The column which advanced against the 
iiorth-westeni angle, consisting of about 350 men, was so com- 
pletely envelopecf in smoke, as not to be discovered until it 
had approached within 18 or 20 paces of the lines; but the 
men, being all at their posts and ready to receive it, com- 



HISTORY OF THE »'AR. 87 

mcnced so heavy and galling a fire as to throw the column a 
little into confusion; being quickly rallied, however, it advanc- 
ed to the outer works, and began to leap into the ditch. At 
that moment a fire of grape was opened from a six-pounder, 
which had been previously arranged so as to rake in that di- 
rection, which, together with the musquetry, threw them into 
such confusion, that they were compelled to retire precipi- 
tately to the woods. 

During the assault, which lasted about half an hoar, an in- 
cessant fire was kept up by the enemy's artillery, which con- 
sisted of five sixes and a howitzer, but without eflfect. 

Before the attack was ended, the soldiers in the garrison 
supplied the wounded enemy in the ditch with water, by throw- 
ing ov^r full canteens. 

The whole number of men in the garrison -svas not more 
than 160. Their loss during the siege was one killed and se- 
ven wounded slightly. The loss of the enemy in killed, wound- 
ed, and prisoners, must have exceeded 150; one lieutenant- 
colonel, a lieutenant, and 50 rank and file were found in and 
about the ditch, dead or wounded. Those of the remainder, 
who were not able to escape were taken off during the night 
by the Indians. 

About 3 in the morning the enemy sailed down the river, 
leaving" behind them a boat containing clothing and consider- 
able military stores. - Seventy stand of arms, and several brace 
of pistols, were afterwards collected near the works. 

A few days after the assault, Proctor despatched a surgeon 
w^ith a flag of truce, to assist in the cate of the wounded, and 
with a request that such of the prisoners as were in a condi- 
tion to be removed might be permitted to return to Maiden, 
on his • parole of honour that they should not serve until ex- 
changed. 

Harrison, in his reply, stated, that on his arrival at Fort San- 
dusky on the morning of the 3d, he found that major Croghan, 
conformably to those principles which are held sacred in the 
American army, had caused all the care to be taken of the 
wounded prisoners that his situation would permit; that his 
hospital surgeon was particularly charged to attend to them, 
and he was warranted in the belief that every thing which sur- 
gical skill could give was afforded. They have been liberally 
furnished too, he added, with every article necessary in their 
situation which the hospital stores could supply. Having re- 
ferred to his government for orders respecting the disposition 
of the prisoners, he could not with propriety comply with the 
request of an immediate exchange. But he assured him, that 



88 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

as far as it depended upon him, the course of treatment whict. 
had been commenced towards them while in his possession 
would be continued. 

It is impossible here to avoid contrasting the conduct of 
Proctor and Harrison, in two exactly parallel cases, the care 
of the wounded, and treatment of the surgeon sent for their 
relief, after the battles of Frenchtown and Sandusky. In the 
one case the surgeon is treated with politeness, and only sent 
back because his aid is unnecessary, and the wounded are sup- 
plied with water by the garrison, even while the attack is car- 
ried on. The opposite conduct need not be repeated here. 
It has made too deep an impressicni to be so soon effaced. 

On the 26th of December 1812, an order in council was is- 
sued by the British government, declaring the Chesapeake and 
Delaware bays in a state of blockade, and on the 20th of March, 
all the ports south of Rhode Island were included. During the 
winter, intelligence had been repeatedly received by American 
prisoners from Bermuda, of the arrival of a British squadron at 
that place, well stored with bombs and Congreve rockets, and 
with a considerable body of troops on board, for the purpose of 
destroying some of our southern cities. The alarm, then, that 
was excited at Norfolk may be easily*f:onceived, when intelli- 
gence was received of the approach of this squadron, which on 
the 4th of February was perceived in the Chesapeake, standing 
towards Hampton Roads, to the number of two 74's three fri- 
gates, a brig and a schooner. The frigate Constellation had 
come down the bay, and anchored in Hampton Roads the day 
before, and on the arrival of the first news of the near approach 
of the hostile squadron, it being then ebb-tide, was fast aground 
at Willoughby spit. Fortunately, however, the flood made, 
and the ship was afloat before the enemy hove in sight. She 
was immediately brought up EUza.beth river to Norfolk, and 
anchored between the two forts. 

Every exertion was now made for the defence of the place, 
by calling out the militia, &c.; the recruits at the barracks were 
brought down to the fort, and the gun-boats stationed in the 
most favourable position to resist the expected attack. No at- 
tempt, however, was made upon the town. The squadron con- 
fined its operation to the capturing and destroying the bay 
craft, and forming an effectual blockade of the waters of the 
Chesapeake. 

About the same time a British squadron entered the Dela- 
ware bay, which consisted of the Poictiers, 74, the frigate Bel- 
videra, and several small vessels, and for some weeks were em- 
ployed in fixing buoys, intercepting and capturing the outward 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 89 

and inward bound vessels, and burning the bay craft. On the 
16th of March, sir J. P. Beresford, the commander of the 
squadron, transmitted a letter to Lewistown, a small fishing 
town near the mouth of the bay, addressed to the first magis- 
trate, requesting him to send twenty live bullocks, with a pFo- 
portionate quantity of vegetables and hay, on board the Poic- 
tiers, for the use of the squadron, which should be immediate- 
ly paid for at the Philadelphia prices. The request was accom- 
panied with a threat, that in case of a refusal, he should burn 
the town. 

This demand was positively, though politely refused, as " a 
compliance would be an immediate violation of the laws, and an 
eternal stigma on the nation." To which Beresford answered, 
'' that the demand he had made was, in his opinion, neither un- 
generous, nor wanting in that magnanimity which one nation 
ought to observe to another M'ith which it is at war. It is in my 
power,'* continues he, *'^o destroy your town, and the request 
I have made lipon it, as the price of its security, is neither dis- 
tressing nor unusual. I must, therefore, persist, and whatever 
sufferings may fall upon the inhabitants of Lewis, must be at- 
tributed to yourselves, by not complying with a request so ea- 
sily acquiesced in.'* 

Nothing further passed on the subject, till the 6th of April, 
when they renewed the demand, and fired several 32 pound 
shot into the town, previous to sending the flag on shore, to 
show that they were serious in their threats. In Beresford*s 
letter on this occasion, he urges that no dishonour can be attach- 
ed to complying with his demand, in consideration of his supe- 
rior force. " I must, therefore," continues he, " consider your 
refusal to supply the squadron as most cruel on your part to 
the inhabitants. I grieve for the distress the women and chil- 
dren are reduced to by your conduct; and earnestly desire they 
may be instantly removed." To this letter merely a verbal re- 
ply was returnjsd, that the commander, colonel Davis, was a 
gallant man, and had already taken care of the ladies. On the 
return of the flag, a cannonade was commenced from four 
launclies with 24 and 18 pounders; two sloops, with 32 pounders 
and a mortar; a pilot boat, with six pounders; and a schooner 
with 12 twelve pounders, covered by the frigate Belvidera: 

The town being seated on a considerable eminence, sustained 
little or no injury; the rockets passing over, and the bombs fall- 
ing short. The fire from an eighteen pounder on shore, which 
was supplied by shot thrown by the enemy, silenced one of 
their most dangerous gun-boats. Above 600 shot were fired at 
the place, a great part of which was afterwards dug", by the boys. 



90 HISTORY O^ THE WAR. 

out of the sand, viz. 40 of 321b. 96 of 18lb. 156 of 12's and>'«, 
with a large quantity of 6's and grape, besides shells and re- 
mains of rockets. Not a man was killed on the side of the 
Americans during this attack. 

On the forenoon of the following day, a number of small 
boats approached the shore, apparently with the intention of 
landing; but, being gallantly met by the militia on the beaph, 
they were recalled by a signal from the squadron. 

In the Chesapeake the principal part of the squadron began 
to move up the bay about the beginning of April. On the 3d 
they anchored off the mouth of the Rappahannock, for the pur- 
pose of attacking the Dolphin, a privateer schooner of 10 guns; 
and three letters of marque bound for France, which had taken 
shelter in the river on the approach of the squadron. 

Their tenders and launches, to the number of 1 7, being mann- 
ed and sent up the river, a furious attack was made on the ves- 
sels, which unfortunately lay becalmed. Two of the letters of 
marque were speedily taken, they making but a slight resis- 
tance; the third was run ashore, and most of her crew escaped. 
The Dolpliin bore the brunt of the action. The whole force of 
the enemy was soon directed to her, and she gallantly sustained 
the contest for two hours, when, at last, they succeeded in 
boarding her. Even then, however, she did not strike. The 
fight continued for some time on deck, until, overpowered by 
numbers, the Americans were forced to submit, the enemy hav- 
ing previously pulled down the colours. 

A few days previous to this affair, a most unfortunate actfon 
took place here between the American privateer Fox and the 
United States' schooner Adeline and two gun-boats. The 
schooner and gun-boats were proceeding down the bay, under 
the command of lieutenant Sinclair, and at midnight made a 
harbour under Gwinn*s island, near the mouth of the Rappa- 
hannock. After having anchored in a line across the channel, 
Sinclair was hailed by the Fox, and each taking the other to be 
an enemy, and consequently refusing to send a boat onboard, 
Sinclair fired a musket ahead of the privateer, which she in- 
stantly returned with a broadside. 

The schooner and gun-boats then opened their fire, and in 
fifteen minutes silenced the privritter Being hailed, however, 
to know if she had struck, she renewed the action without an- 
swering, and in fifteen minutes more was again silenced. On 
being a second time hailed, she once moi'e opened her fire, 
which she continued for half an hour and then ciit her cable and 
escaped up the bay. On b6ard the Fox the captain and five men 
were badly wounded, she had one shot in her hull, and her sails 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 91 

&c. were very much cut. The damage on board the schooner, 
which bore the brunt of the action, was but small, only one man 
severely wounded, and the rigging a little cut. 

The hostile squadron continuing to stand up the bay, on the 
9th of April they reached Annapolis, and on the 16th appeared 
off the mouth of the Patapsco, twelve or fourteen miles from 
Baltimore. Both Annapolis and Baltimore were threatened 
with an attack, but nothing was attempted, the enemy careful- 
ly keeping their vessels at a safe distance from the guns of the 
forts. 

But though the fortified towns escaped the vengeance which 
had so long been threatened, it was not the case with the un- 
protected villages, which skirt the rivers that fall into the head 
of the bay. Four of these were laid in ashes by admiral Cock- 
burn, who gallantly led the barges which ascended the rivers 
for this purpose. These plundering and burning expeditions 
will long render his name famous in the neighbourhood of the 
Chesapeake bay. 

Having sufficiently signalized their prowess by the burning 
of Frenchtown, Havre-de-Grace,* Georgetown, and Frederick- 
town, and the farm-houses, mills, 8cc. adjoining, the squadron 
returned down the bay, destroying the oyster-boats, wood-shal- 
lops, and other river craft in their progress, and showing them- 
selves, but at a convenient distmice, at every fortification near 
the bay. 

The squadron after returning down the bay, resumed their 
station in Hampton Roads, with the view of attacking Norfolk. 
Early on the morning of the 22d of June, they landed a large 
body of troops, from the accounts of deserters about 2500, on 
the west side of Elizabeth river, and marched them up towards 
Craney Island, the passage to which from the main land, is 
fordable at low water. Forty or fifty boats full of men, were then 
sent to effect a landing on the north side of the island, with 
whom the force on the main land was directed to co-operate. — 
The whole force on the island at the time of the attack was 487, 
riflemen, infantry, and artillery, and 1 50 seamen and marines, 
forty-three of whom were on the sick list. — With this handful 



* The burning and p.lundnrin^ tf Havre-de-Grace is fierhaps 
the most sii^nal of CockburrCs exfiloits. The houses being apart^ 
had to be separately set onjire; and the labour bestowed i?i in- 
juring the church 7nust have been very considerable, every pane, 
of glass in the building having been broken by stones and brick- 
bats. 



92 HlSTOllY OF THE WAK. 

of men was the landing of the enemy successfully opposed, and 
they were forced to retreat to their ships, with the loss of sev- 
eral boats by the fire of the artillery. 

Foiled in their meditated attack on Norfolk by this repulse 
at the mouth of the ftarbour, the British again turned their at« 
tention to the easier task of laying waste unprotected villages, 
and that of Hampton, which lay nearly opposite, naturally pre- 
sented itself. Here they landed a body of 2500 men, with but 
little opposition; there being only a small detachment of mill* 
tia encamped near the town, who were soon forced to retreai 
under a heavy fire of artillery, musquetry and congreve rockets. 
The British now took possession of the village; and here a hor- 
rid scene of barbarity ensued, which was characterised by plun- 
der, devastation, murder, and rape. The British troops short- 
ly after retreated to their ships, when a correspondence took 
place by means of flags between general Taylor, the comman- 
dant at Norfolk, and sir Sidney Beckwith, quarter-master-gen- 
eral of the British forces, on the subject of these excesses. Sir 
Sidney attempted to justify them on the gronnd of inhumanity 
in some of the American troops on Craney Island, whom he 
charged with having waded into the river, and shot at their un- 
resisting and yielding foe, who clung to the wreck of a boat 
■which had been sunk by the fire of their guns. This imputa- 
tion was promptly repelled, and a board of officers was imme-. 
diately appointed to investigate the charge. From the evi* 
dence adduced it appeared, that in the action at Craney Island, 
two of the enemy's boats in front of their line were sunk by 
the fire of the batteries; the soldiers and sailors who were in 
those boats were consequently afloat, and in danger of drown-" 
ing, and being in front of the boats that were uninjured, guns 
were necessarily fired in the direction of the men in the water, 
but with no intention whatever to do them further harm; but, 
on the contrary, orders were given to prevent this, by ceasing 
to fire grape, and only to fire round shot; it also was substan- 
tiated, that one of the enemy, who had apparently surrendered, 
advanced towards the shore, about one hundred yards, when 
he suddenly turned to his right and endeavoured to make his 
escape to a body of the enemy who had landed above the island, 
and who were then in view; then, and not till then, was he 
fired upon to bring him back, which had the desired effect, 
and he was taken unhurt to the island. It further appeared, 
that the American troops exerted themselves in acts of hospi- 
tality and kindness to the unresisting and yielding foe. 

But even if this charge had been founded on fact, it could 
Kot have justified the measures adopted by the British. The 



MlhTaKY OF HIE WAR, 93 

tucis should surely have been first clearly ascertained and re- 
dress demanded, before any retaliation was resorted to; espe- 
cially a retaliation so extravagant in its measure, applying not 
to the perpetrators of the all^.^gtd offence, nor to their com- 
rades but to the unresisting, innocent, and helpless. 

During the remainder of the summer, hostile demonstrations 
>vere made by the British squadron in various points on the 
waters of the Chesapeake, particularly at Washington, Anna- 
polis, and Baltimore, in which, if the aim of the enemy was 
merely to harrass, they were certainly eminently successful. 
A part of the Chesapeake squadron, under admiral Cockburn, 
likewise appeared off Ocracock bar. North Carolina, where 
their barges destroyed two privateers, and landed a number of 
men at Portsmouth and Ocracock, who conimitted a number 
of wanton depredations. 

The British squadron off New York confined themselves to 
keepmg up a strict blockade. The American frigates United 
States and Macedonian, and the sloop of war Hornet, sailed 
from New York on a cruize in the beginning of May. Fmd- 
ing, however, that a much superior force 'lay off the Hook, 
they j5ut back, and on the 25th passed through HcU-gate, with 
tiie intention of putting to sea through the sound. This inten- 
tion was frustrated by the superior force of the enemy in that 
quarter, by which they were several times driven back, and on 
the first of June they were chased into New London bv two 
74's and a frigate, which immediatelyanchorcd off tliat place 
aticl m a few days were joined by the force that liad been Block-' 
admg off the Hook. As the movements of the Biitish indicat- 
ed an intention of attacking New London, prompt measures 
were taken for its defence. Six hundred militia were calkd 
out, and to insure the safety of his squadron, commodore De- 
catur landed a number of his guns; which were mounted in a 
battery, and the vessels, thus lightened, proceeded up the riv- 
er; where they were secure from any attempt of the lur-er ves- 
sels ot the enemy. 

New London is situated on the river Thames, about 7 miles 
iiom Long Island sound, and can be approached bv ships of 
any draught of water. The channel, however, is narrow, and 
completely commanded by the surrounding heig!.ts, whi-h 
v/ere so strongly fortified, ?s to deter the souadron from anv 
hostile attempt. They contented themselves, therefore, with 
keeping up -a blockade, and making a few predatory excur- 
sions on Long Island and the neighbouring continent. 

An act was passed by congress in the winter of 1812— 13, fo 
encourage the destruction of the enemy's blockading vessids. 



94 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

hy a bounty of half the value of the vessel destroyed, if effect- 
ed by any other means than by the armed or commissioned 
vessels of the United States, in consequence of which several 
abortive attempts were made. The two most remarkable were 
those agamiit the Ramilies, off New London, and against the 
Plantagcnet, off cape Henry, at the mouth of the Chesapeake 
bay. 

The atte7r.pt on the Ramilies was made on the 25th of June. 
The s'thooner Eagle was loaded at New York with a number 
of flour barrels filled with gun-powder, in one of which was 
fixed a gun-lock, with a string tp the trigger made fast to the 
bottom of the vessel. Over these were placed a few barrels 
of damaged flour. Thus prepared, she threw herself in the 
way of the boats of the blockading squadron off New London, 
and on their coming up to take possession of her, the crew 
took to their boats, and made their escape. It was expected 
tl^,at the schooner would be taken along side of the Ramilies to 
unload; but the wind and tide being against them, and night 
coming on, it was determined to unload as much of the flour 
in the boats as could conveniently be done. When they came 
to the barrel of powder in which the gun-lock was placed, and 
i.ookcd the tackle to hoist it on deck, it sprung the trigger, 
and blew up the schooner and all on board and around her, and 
in a few seconds not a vestige of them was to be seen. 

The attempt on the Plantagenet was made in the montb of 
July, by means of a torpedo. On the night of the 18th, Mr. 
Mix, of the United Slates navy, accompanied by two persons 
who volunteered for the purpose, proceeded from Norfolk 
down to the Plantagenet, in a large open boat, and from pre- 
vious observations found no difficuity in ascertaining her posi- 
tion. When Mix had got to within 40 fathom of her, he drop- 
ped the torpedo over, in the very instant of doing which he 
was hailed by one of the enemy's guard boats. The machine 
was speedily taken into the boat again, and he made his way 
off in safety. On the night of the 19th he made another at- 
tempt, and w:^ again discovered ere he could accomplish his 
purpose. On the night of the 20th he succeeded in getting 
within 15 yards of the ship's bow, and directly under her jib- 
boom. There he continued making his preparations for 15 
minutes, when a centinel from the forecastle hailed ^boat ahoyl' 
and he had once more to decamp. The centinel not being an- 
swered, fired his musket, which was followed by a rapid dis- 
charge of small arms. Blue lights were made to find out the 
!)oat, but failed; they then threw rockets in different directions, 
vhich illuminated the water for a considerable width as far as 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



they were thrown, and succeeded hi discovering the position 
of the nocturnal visitor; when the ship commenced a rapid fiie 
of heavy guns, slipped her cables, and made some sail, while 
her boats were despatched in pursuit. The daring intruders. 
however, escaped unhurt. The visit was repeated on the 
nights of the 2 1st, 22d, and 23d, .without success, as the ship, 
having taken the alarm, changed her position every night. On 
the night of the 24th, however, Mr. Mix succeeded in findiiri^ 
her out, and having taken his position within 100 yards distance 
in a direction with her larboard bow, he dropped the fatal ma- 
chine into the water just as the centinel was crying aWs ni'elL 
It was swept along with the tide, and would have completely 
effected its errand, it is said, had it not exploded a few seconds 
too soon. The scene was awfully sublime. It was like the 
concussion of an earthquake, attended with a sound louder and 
more terrific then the heaviest peal of thunder. A pyramid of 
water 50 feet in circumference was thrown up to the height of 
30 or 40 feet; its appearance was a vivid red, tinged at the 
sides with a beautiful purple. On ascending to its greatest 
height, it burst at the top with a tremendous explosion, and 
fell in torrents on the deck of the ship, which rolled into the 
yawning chasm below, and had nearly upset. Impervious 
darkness again prevailed. The light occasioned by the ex- 
plosion, though fleeting, enabled Mr. Mix and his companions 
to discover that the forechannel of the ship was blown off, and 
a boat which lay alongside with several men in her, was thrown 
up in the dreadful convulsion of the waters. Terrible, indeed, 
must have been the panic of the ship's crew, from the noise 
and confusion which appeared to our adventurers to prevail on 
board; and they are certain that nearly the whole ships's crew 
hastily betook themselves to the boats. 

The following minute and interesting account of the naval 
conflict on lake Erie, was written by an eye-witness. — -" Com- 
modore Perry arrived at Erie in June, with five small vessels, 
from Black Rock. The Queen Charlotte and Ladyprevosl, 
were cruising off Long Point to intercept him — he passed them 
in the night unperceived. The Lawrence and Niagara were 
then on the stocks — every exertion was made to expedite their 
building and equipment, and early in August they were i-eady 
to sail. But it was necessary to pass tlie bar at th.e entrance 
of the harbour, over which there was but six feet water, and 
the brigs drew nine. The British fleet appeared off the har- 
bour, for the purpose of preventing ours from going to lake!— 
The means employed by our officers to take the brigs over the 
bar, were ingenious and deserve mention. Two large scows, 



96 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

fifty feet long, ten feet wide, and eight feet deep, were prepar- 
ed — they were first filled with water and then floated along 
side one of the vessels in a parallel direction; they were then 
secured by means of large pieces of hewn timber placed 
athwart ship, with both ends projecting from the port holes 
across the scows; the space between the timbers and the boat, 
being secured by other pieces prupcrly arranged; the water 
was then bailed from the scows, thereby giving them an aston- 
ishing lifting power. It was thus that the bar was passed, be- 
fore the enemy had taken the proper steps to oppose it. One 
obstacle was surmounted, but the fleet was not in a condition 
to seek the enemy at Maiden. There was not at this time 
more than half sailors enough to man the fleet. However, a 
number of Pennsylvania militia having volunteered their ser- 
vices, the commodore made a short cruize off* Long Point, 
more perhaps, for the purpose of exercising his men than 
seeking an enemy. 

" About the last of August commodore Perry left Erie, to 
co-operate with general Harrison in the reduction of Maiden. 
He anchored off the mouth of Sandusky river, and had an in- 
terview with general Harrison, who furnished him with about 
seventy volunteers, principally Kentuckians, to serve as ma- 
rines on board the fleet. Captain Dobbin, in the Ohio, was or- 
dered to return to Erie for provisions. The Amelia had been 
left there for w^ant of men to man her. Exclusive of these he 
had nine sail, mounting in ail fifty-four guns. The British fleet 
at Maiden, covisisted of six sail, and mounted sixty-six guns. 

*' Commodore Perry appeared before Maiden, offered battle, 
reconnoitered the enemy and retired to Put-in-Bay, thirty-five 
rniles distant from his antagonist. Both parties remained a 
few days inactive; but their repose was that of the lion. 

<* On the morning of the 10th of September at sunrise, the 
enemy were discovered bearing down from Maiden for the 
evident purpose of attacking our squadron, tlien at anchor in 
Put-in-Bay. Not a moment was to be lost. Perry's squ^ron 
immediately got under way, and stood out to meet the British 
fleet, which at this time had the weather gage. At 40 A. M. 
the wind shifted from S. W. to S. E. which brought our squad- 
ron to windward. The wind was light — the day beautiful — not 
a cloud obscured the horizon. The line was formed at 11, 
and commodore Perry caused an elegant flag, which he had 
privately prepared, to be hoisted at the mast-head of the Law- 
rence; on this flag was painted, in characters legible to the 
whole fleet, the dying words of the immortal Lawrence: — 
'' Don't give \jv the ship." Its effect is not to be describ- 



HISTORY OF THE WAll. 9T 

ed — every heart was electrified. The crews cheered — the ex- 
hilarathig can was passed. Both fleets appeared eager for the 
conflict, on the result of which so much depended. At !5 nun- 
utes before 12, the Detroit, the head-most ship of the enemy, 
opened upon the I^awrence, which for ten minutes, was obU;]j- 
ed to sustain a well directed and heavy fire from tlie enemy's 
two large ships, without being able to return it with carrot h 
ades, at five minutes before twelve the Lawrence opened upon 
the enemy — the other vessels were ordered to support her, 
but the wind was at this time too light to enable them to come 
up. Every brace and bowline of the Lawrence being soon 
shot away, she became unmanageable, and in this situation sus- 
tained the action upwards of two hours, within caiiistcr dis- 
tance, until every gun was rendered useless, and but a small 
part of her crew left unhurt upon deck. 

" At half past two the wind increased and enabled the Nia- 
gara to come into close action — the gun-boats took a nearer po- 
sition. Commodore Perry left his ship in charge of Lt. Yar- 
nel, and went on board the,Niagara. Just as he reached tha<: 
vessel, the flag of the Lawrence came down; the crisis had ar- 
rived. Captain Elliot at this moment anticipated the wishes 
of the commodore, by volunteering his services to bring the 
schooners into close action. 

" At forty-five minutes past two the signal was made for close 
action. The Niagara being very little injured, and her crew 
tresh,the commodore determined to pass through the enemy's 
line; he accordingly bore up and passed ahead of the Detroit, 
Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost, pouring a terrible raking 
fire into them from the starboard guns, and on the Chippeway 
and Little Belt, from the larboard side, at half pistol shot dis- 
tance. The small vessels at this time having got within grap^ 
and canister distance, kept up a well directed'^and destructive 
fire. The action now raged with the greatest fury — the Queen 
Charlotte, having lost her commander and severalof licr princi- 
pal officers, in a moment of confusion got foul of the Detroit; in 
this situation the enemy in their turn had to sustain a tremen- 
dous fire without the power of returning it with much effect; the 
carnage was horrible— the flags of the Detroit, Queen Charlot- 
te and Lady Prevost, were struck in rapid succession. The' brig 
Hunter, and schooner Chippewa, were soon compelled to fol- 
low the example. The Little Belt attempted to escape to Mai- 
den, but she was pursued by two of the gun-boats and surren 
dered about three miles distant from the scene of action. 

"The writer of this account, in com.pany with five other<?^ 
arrived at the head of Put-in-Bay island, on the evciing of the 



*,6 HiSTOUY C)i THE WAK, 

9t.h, and haci a view of the action, at the distance of only ten 
miles. The spectacle was truly grand and awful. The firing 
was incessant, for the space of three hours, and continued at 
short intervals forty-five minutes longer. In less than one 
hour after the battle began, most of the vecsels of both fleets 
were enveloped in a cloud of smoke, which rendered the issue 
of the action uncertam, till the next morning, when we visited 
the fleet in the harbour on the opposite side of the island. The 
reader will easily judge of our solicitude to learn the result. 
There is no sentiment more painful than suspense, when it is 
excited by the uncertain issue of an event like this. 

" If the wind had continued at S. W. it was the intention of 
admiral Barclay to have boarded our squadron; for this pur- 
pose he had taken on board of his fleet about 200 of the famous 
41st regiment; they acted as mariiies and fought bravely, but 
nearly two thirds of them were either killed or wounded. 

" The carnage on board the prizes was prodigious — they 
must have lost 200 in killed besides wounded. The sides oi the 
Detroit and Queen Charlotte were shattered from bow to stern; 
there was scarcely room to place one's hand on their larboard 
sides without touching the impression of a shot — a great many 
bails, canister and grape, were found lodged in their bulwarks, 
w hich were too thick to be penetrated by our carronades unless 
V. ithin pistol shot distance. Their masts were so much shat- 
tcied that they fell overboard soon after they got into the bay. 

" The loss of the Americans was severe, particularly on 
l)oard the Lawrence. When her flag was struck she had but 
nine men fit for duty remaining on deck. Her sides were com- 
pletely riddled by the shot froin the long guns of the British 
ships. Her deck, the morning after the conflict, w hen I first 
went on board, exhibited a scene that defies description — for it 
was literally covered with blood, which stiil adhered to the 
plank in clots — brains, hair and fragments of bones were still 
.sticking to the rigging and sides. The surgeons were still 
busy with the wounded — enoughl horror appalled my senses. 

" Among the wounded were several brave fellows, each of 
whom had lost a leg or an arm — they appeared cheerful and 
expressed a hope that they had done their duty. Rome and 
Sparta would have been proud of tliese heroes. 

" It would be invidious to particularize instances of indivi- 
dual merit, where every one so nobly performed his part. Of 
ti^e nine seamen remaining unhurt at the time the Lawrence 
struck her flag, five were immediately promoted for their un- 
shaken firmness in such a trying situation. The most of th-ese 
had been in the actions with the Guerriere and Java. 



ItlSTOU* OF IHti WAR. 9& 

« Every officer of the Lawrence, except the commodore and 
his little brother, a promising youth, 13 years old, were either 
killed or wounded. 

" The efficacy of the gun-boats was fully proved in this ac- 
tion, and the sterns of all the prizes bear ample testimony ot 
the fact. They took raking positions and galled the enemy 
severely. The Lady Prevost lost twelve men before either of 
the brigs fired on her. Their fire was quick and precise. Let 
us hear the enemy. The general order of Adjutant General 
Baynes, contains the following words: " His [Perry's] numer- 
ous gun boats, [four] which had proved the greatest annoyance 
during the action, were all unmjured.*' 

" The undaunted bravery of admiral Barclay entitled him to 
a better fate; to the loss of the day was superadded grievous 
and dangerous wounds: he had before lost an arm, it was now 
his hard fortune to lose the use of the other, by a shot which 
carried away the blade of the right shoulder; a canister shot 
made a violent contusion in his hip: his wounds were for some 
days considered mortal. Every possible attention was paid to 
his situation. When commodore Perry sailed fbr Buffaloe, he 
was so far recovered that he took passage on board our fleet. 
The fleet touched at Erie. The citizens saw the affecting 
spectacle of Harrison and Perry leading the wounded British 
Hero, still unable to walk without help, from the beach to their 
lodgings. 

" On board the Detroit, twenty-four hours after her surren- 
der, were found snugly stowed away in the hold, two Indian 
Chiefs, who had the courage to go on board at Maiden, for the 
purpose of acting as sharp shooters to kill our officers. One 
had the courage to ascend into the round top and discharge 
bis piece, but the whizzing of shot, splinters, and bits of rigg- 
ing, soon made the place too warm for him — he descended 
faster than he went up; at the moment he reached the deck, 
the fragments of a seaman's head struck his comrade's face, 
and covered it with blood and brains. He vociferated the sav- 
Jige interjection " ^wc»///"and both sought safety below. 

"The British officers had domesticated a 6ear at Maiden. 
JBruin accompanied his co?nrades to battle — was on the deck 
of the Detroit durir.g the engagement, and escaped unhurt. 

" The killed of both fleets were thrown overboard as fast as 
they fell. Several weie washed ashore upon the island and the 
main during tlie gales that succeeded the action. 

" Commodore Perry treated the prisoners with humanity 
and indulgence; several Canadians, having wives at ^Maiden, 
were permitted to visit their families on parole. 



100 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

" The British were superior in the leyigth and nuviher of 
their guns, as well as in the number of men. The Americon 
fleet was manned with a motly set of bein^^s, Europeans, Afri- 
cans, Americans from every part of the United States. Full 
o^ne fourth were blacks. I saw one Bussian, who could not 
speak a word of English. They were brave — and who could 
be otherwise imder the command of Perry? 

" The day after the battle, the funeral obsequies of the Ame- 
rican and British officers, who had fallen in the action, were 
performed, in an appropriate and affecting manner. An open- 
ing on the margin of the bay, was selected for the interment 
of the bodies. The crews of both fleets attended. The weather 
was fine — the elements seemed to participate in the solemni- 
ties of the day, for every breeze was hushed, and not a wave 
ruffled the surface of the water. The procession of boats — 
the neat appearance of the officers and men — the music — the 
slow and regular motion of the oars, striking in exact time 
with the notes of the solemn dirge — the mournful wavine of 
the flags — the sound of the minute guns from the different 
ships in the harbour — the wild and solitary aspect of the place 
— the stillness of nature, gave to the scene an air of melancho- 
ly grandeur, beuer felt than described — all acknowledged its 
influence — all were sensibly affected. What a contrast did it 
exhibit to the terrible conflict of the preceding dayl Then the 
people of the two squadrons were engaged in the deadly strife 
of arms. Now they associated like brothers, to pay the last 
sad tribute of respect to the dead of both nations. 

" Five officers were interred, two American and three British. 
Lt. Brooks and midshipman Laub of the Lawrence; captain 
Finnis and lieutenant Stokoe of the Queen Charlotte, and lieu- 
tenant Giiriand of the Detroit. The gra^es are but a few paces 
from the beach, and the future traveller of either nation, will 
find no memento whereby he may distinguish the American 
from the British hero. 

*^ The marines of our fleet were highly complimented by the 
commodore, for their good conduct; although it was the first 
time most of them had seen a square rigged vessel." The 
greater part of them were volunteers from the militia regi- 
inent, commanded by colonel Reese Hill, then stationed at 
Erie, which was raised in the counties of Centre, Huntingdon, 
and Mifflin, Pennsylvania; a few were Kentuckians, all of 
whom "proved, on this occasion, as has the commodore since, 
that they can fight on both elements." 

As soon as the prisoners and wounded Mere landed, the fleet 
was employed in concentrating general Harrison's army, bv 



HISTOllY OF THE WAR. 101 

iranspoitnig th^m from Portage River and Fort Meigs to Put- 
iri-bay. This duty was completed about the 20th of Septem- 
ber, and on the 22d about 1200 of the troops Vvcrc landed by 
Perry on a small island about four leagues from Maiden. On 
the following day they were again embarked, and landed in the 
afternoon a small distance below Maiden, and in an hour after 
Harrison took possessionof the town of Amherstberg, without 
opposition, general Proctor having previously burnt Fort 
Maiden, the ixavy-yard, barracks, and public store-houses, and 
then retreated to Sandwich. Being followed by Harrison 
he retired to a strong position on the right bank of the river 
Thames, near ^loravian Town, about eighty miles from De- 
troit, leaving the Michigan territory in the possession of the 
Americans. 

On the 2d of October general Harrison left Sandwich in 
p.ursuit of Proctor, with about 140 regulars, colonel Johnson's 
mounted regiment and the Kentucky volunteers under the 
venerable governor Shelby, amounting, in the whole, to near 
3500 men. Harrison was accompauied by commodore Perry, 
who volunteered as his aid-de-camp. 

The army reached the river Thames, which falls into lake 
St. Clair, twenty-five miles above Detroit, the same evening, 
and next morning crossed by a bridge, which Proctor had ne- 
glected to destroy. Harrison put himself at the head of the 
mounted regiment, and pushed forward, in order, if possible, 
to save the bridges over three branches of the Thames, which 
ran between him and the British army. At the first of these they 
captured a lieutenant of dragoons and 1 1 privates, who had been 
despatched by Proctor to destroy it; and the second having been 
but imperfectly destroyed, was soon repaired, and the army 
passed over and encamped, on the evening of the 3d of Oc- 
tober. 

The baggage had thus far been brought in boats accompa- 
nied by gun-boats, to protect it, and if necessary to cover the 
passage of the army across the rivers: but the river above be- 
ing narrow, with high woody banks, it became necessaj'y to 
l«ave the baggage under a guard, and to trust to the bravery 
of the troops to effect a passage across the remaining stream. 
Next morning, about eight miles above their encampment, the 
army arrived at the third unfordable branch of the Thames, 
where they found that the bridge over its mouth, as well as one 
a mile above, had been taken up by the Indians. Here several 
hundred of the Indians attempted to dis^pute the passage of the 
troops, but the fire from two six-pounders soon drove them off, 
and in about two hours the bridge was repaired and the troops 



102 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

crossed, just in time to extinguish a house that had been set on 
fire containing a considerable number of muskets; which were 
fortunately saved. At the first farm above the bridge was found 
one of the enemy's vessels on fire, and here intelligence was 
received that they were but a few miles ahead. 

The army halted for the night about four miles above the 
bridge, where they found two other vessels and a large distil- 
lery, filled with ordnance and other valuable stores to an im- 
mense amount, in flames. It was impossible to extinguish the 
fire, but two mounted twenty-four pounders were taken, and a 
large quantity of ball and shells of various sizes. Early on the 
morning of the 5th the troops were again put in motion, and in 
the afternoon the officer commanding the advance sent to in- 
form general Harrison that his progress was stopped by the 
enemy, who were formed across the line of march. 

Between the two armies, the road passed through an un- 
cleared beech forest, pretty clear of underwood, near the banks 
of the river, parallel to wiiich, at the distance of two or three 
hundred yards, extended a swamp several miles in length. — 
Across this strip of land the British -were drawn up; their left 
resting on the river supported by artillery, their right on the 
swamp, covered by the Indians. 

The American troops were now formed in order of battle. 
General Trotter's brigade formed the front line, his right upon 
the road, and his left upon the swamp, with general Desha's 
division, consisting of two brigade, formed en potence*^ upon 
his left. General King's brigade formed a second line, 1 50 
yards in the rear of Trotter's; and Chiles' brigade, a corps of 
reserve in the rear. Trotter's, King's, and Chiles' brigades 
formed the command of major-general Henry. Each brigade 
averaged nearly 500 men. The crotchet formed by Desha's 
division was occupied by Shelby, the governor of Kentucky, a 
veteran of sixty-six years of age, who had distinguished him- 
self in the revolutionary war at King's Mountain. The regu- 
lar troops, who now amounted only to 120 men, occupied in 
columns of sections of four, the small space between the road 
and the river, for the purpose of seizing the enemy's artillery, 
and ten or twelve friendly Indians were directed to move under 
the bank. Harrison had directed Johnson's mounted infantry 



* Troops are ranged en potence by breaking a straight iincy 
and throwing a certain proportion of it either forivard or back- 
ivardyfrom the right or left ^ according to circumstances, for the 
finrpose of securing that line, — Duane's Military Dictionary 



HiSTOaY OF THE WAR. 105 

to form in two lines opposite to the enemy, and, when the in- 
fantry advanced to take ground to the left, and, forming upon 
that* flank, to endeavour to turn the right of the Indians. It 
was perceived, however, that it would be impracticable for 
them to do any thing on horseback in that quarter, ov, mg to the 
thickness of the woods and swampiness of the ground, A mea- 
sure altogether novel was therefore determined on, whicn was 
crowned with the most signal success.' — The American back- 
woodsmen ride better in the woods than any other people. A 
musket or rifle is no impediment to them, being accustomed to 
carry them on horseback from their earliest youth. A charge 
was determined on, and accordingly the regiment was drawn up 
in close column, with its right at the distance of fifty yards 
from the road, that it might in some measure be protected by 
the trees from the artillery, and the left upon the swamp. 

The army moved on in this order but a short distance, when 
the mounted men received the fire of the British line, and were 
instantly ordered to charge. The horses in the front of the co- 
lumn recoiled from the fire; but on receiving a second fire, the 
column got into motion, and immediately, at full speed, broke 
through the enemy with irresistible force. In one minute the 
contest was over in front. The British officers seeing no hope 
of reducing their disordered ranks to order, the mounted in- 
fantry wheeling upon them, and pouring in a destructive fire, 
immediately surrendered. Only three of the Americans were 
wounded in this charge. 

Upon the American left, however, the contest with the In- 
dians was tiiore severe. Colonel Johnson, who commanded on 
that flank of his regiment, received a most galling fire from 
them, which was returned with great effect. The Indians still 
further to the left advanced, and fell in with the front line of in- 
fantry near its junction with the cVwhion e7i potencej and for a 
moment made an impression upon it. Governor Shelby, how- 
ever, who, as already stated, was stationed near this point, 
brought up a regiment to its support. The enemy now receiv- 
ed a severe fire in front, and a part of the mounted men having 
gained their rear, they immediately retreated with precipitation. 

The moment had now arrived which was to prove whether 
the stigma which had been thrown on our Kentucky brethren 
was founded on truth or falsehood; when it was to be seen 
whether they were " a ferocious and mortal foe, using the 
same mode ot warfare'** with the allies of Britain. The troops 



* General Brock's Pi-Gclama(io7i, 



104 HlbiOKY OF IHK, WAH. 

who had now completely in their power the army under whobc 
eyes had been acted the tragedy of the river Raisin, and that 
which was acted on the Miami after the defeat of colonel 
Dudley, were almost exclusively composed of Kentuckians, 
of men who had lost their brothers or friends in those shock- 
ing scenes. Nor were even the instruments of vengeance 
wanting. They were accompanied by the savages, that had 
perpetrated those deeds, who had just been suing for mercy, 
and would gladly have shown their claims to it, by re -acting 
upon the Thames the bloody scenes of the river Raisin. But 
how did they avail themselves of the opportunity which now 
presented? Did they turn the tide of horrible warfare which 
had deluged their borders in the blood of wounded prisoners, 
and of helpless age and infancy, upon the heads of its abettors? 
No: to their honour, and to the honour of their country be it 
spoken, they did not. The moment they were in their power 
all injuries were magnanimously forgotten, and the prisoners 
received the most honourable and delicate treatment from the 
hands of those whom they had stigmatised as savages, the 
employment of whom justified the use of the Indians. 

Of the British troops, 12 were killed and 22 wounded in this 
action; and six hundred and one regulars were taken prisoners. 
General Proctor escaped by the fleetness of his horses, escort- 
ed by 40 dragoons and a number of mounted Indians. The 
Indians suffered the greatest loss. Thirty-three were found 
dead on the ground, besides numbers who were killed in the 
retreat. On the day of the action six pieces of brass artillery 
were taken, and two twenty-four pounders the day before. — 
Several others were discovered in the river, which were ex- 
pected to be saved. Of the brass pieces, three were trophies 
of the revolutionary war, that were taken at Saratoga and York, 
and surrendered by general Hull. The number of small arms 
captured by the Americans, or destroyed by the enemy, must 
have exceeded 5000; most of them had been taken by the 
British at Detroit, the river Raisin, and the Miami. The loss 
of the Americans were seven killed and twenty-two wounded, 
five of whom have since died. 

The American troops certainly deserved great praise for 
their conduct in this action; for, although they considerably 
outnumbered the British, it must be recollected that they were 
only militia, and that the British had chosen a position that 
effectually secured their flanks, and which it was impossible 
for the Americans to turn, or to present a line more extended 
than that of the enemy. 

As. soon as Harrison took possession of Amherstberg and 



HISTORY OF THE WAH. \Q5 

Sandwich, and te-occupied the territory fo Michigan, several 
of the Indian tribes submitted and brought in hostages for 
their good behaviour, and while he was in pursuit of the 
British, five more tribes followed their example, and brought 
hostages to Detroit. They were received by general M'Ar- 
thur, whom Harrison had left in the command of that place, 
and it was agreed that hostilities should cease for the present, 
on condition that they should " take hold of the same toma- 
hawk with the Americans, and strike all who are, or may be- 
enemies to the United States, whether British or Indians." 

The army returned to Detroit shortly after the battle, where 
th6y embarked on board the fleet for Buffaloe, in order to join 
the army under general Wilkinson. 

About the middle of September an expedition was sent 
from St. Louis, on the Mississippi, against the Indian settle- 
ments on the Peoria lake, on the river Illinois. It consisted 
of about 200 regulars of the 1st regiment of United States 
infantry, with a considerable body of rangers and mounted 
militia, under the command of brigadier-general Howard, 
The regulars ascended the Illiriois in boats; the mounted 
troops proceeded up the Mississippi in two divisions, one on 
each side of the river, for a considerable distance, and then 
crossed the country to the Peoria lake. The different detach- 
ments had not proceeded far before it was discovered that the 
enemy were descending the Illinois to ravage the frontier; 
and a skirmish took place between a party of Indians and the 
detachment on the east side of the Mississippi, who, however, 
soon drove them before them. On the evening of the 28th of 
September, the two detachments that had marched up the 
Mississippi, and thence across to the Illinois, arrived within a 
few miles of the old village, and three men were sent forward 
to discover whether the regulars had arrived. During the 
night lieutenant-colonel Nicholson, who commanded the regu- 
lars, descended the Illinois to the encampment, and reported 
their arrival at Peoria, where they had commenced building a 
fort. He had been attacked by the Indians the day- previous, 
but the enemy were soon dispersed by a well-directed dis- 
charge of musquetry,' with the aid of a six pounder from two 
unfinished block-houses. In this attack none of the men were 
killed, and only one wounded. — It was evident that the assail- 
ants suffered considerably, but to what extent could not be 
ascertained. 

On the 29th the mounted troops arrived at Peoria, and as 
soon as provisions could be drawn, were marched up the 
Illinois to the villages at the head of the lake, which was the 

K 



\(>d HISTORY OF THE WAB. 

direction in which the enemy appeared to have retired from 
Peoria. The villages, being found deserted, were destroyed, 
and the troops returned to Peoria, where they remained till 
the garrison was put in a state of defence. Two detachments 
were then sent in pursuit of the enemy, one of which ascended 
the Illinois above the mouth of the Vermillion river to the 
Rapids, and within 17 miles of Chicago, on lake Michigan. 
The other penetrated the country northwardly to within about 
45 miles of Rock river. The latter discovered several encamp- 
ments, which appeared to have been deserted about the time 
of the army*s arrival at Peoria, but neither of them were able 
to come up with the enemy. 

The mounted troops remained at Peoria from the 2d to the 
15th of October, during which time they were actively 
engaged together with the United States Infantry, in erecting 
Fort Clarke, which stands at the lower end of the Peoria lake, 
completely commanding the Illinois river. This fort is one 
of the strongest in the western country, and highly important 
to the safety of the Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri territories. 

The mounted troops moved from Peoria for the settlements, 
on the 15th, leaving the regulars to garrison the fort. They 
pursued generally a south course till the 21st, when they ar- 
rived at Camp Russell, where the mounted militia were dis- 
charged, and the rangers sent across the country to Vincennes 
on the Wabash, where they safely arrived shortly after. 

After the capture of Boerstler's detachment, the army at 
Fort George remained inactive, with the exception of a few 
trifling skirmishes and attacks on out-posts, for the remainder 
of the summer. Two circumstances are supposed to have 
caused this inactivity. The first was the constant indisposi- 
tion of general Dearborn, which prevented him from taking 
Any active part, and which contmued till the 15th of July, when 
he received orders to retire from the command of the army, 
until his health should be re-established, and until further or- 
ders, the command devolving on brigadier-general Boyd. But 
the principal cause of the inactivity of this army is presumed 
to have ^been, the danger and indeed impracticability of under- 
taking great military movements before Chauncey had ob- 
tained the complete command of Lake Ontario. Before this 
was achieved the army would always be liable to be surround- 
ed, and to have its supplies cut off, and could not expect to be 
successful even with a force considerably superior to that of 
the enemy. The disaster at Detroit had taught a salutary les- 
ion on this subject. 

Every exertion was accordingly made by commodore Chaun- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 107 

tey for the attainment of this important object. After the 
capture of Fort George, however, commodore sir James Yeo, 
who commanded the British squadron, having added consi- 
derably to his force both of vessels and sailors, obliged Chaun- 
cey to remain in port until the new vessel the General Pike 
could be got ready, which was not completed until the middle 
of July. Before we enter upon the trial of skill which now 
ensued between Chauncey and Yeo, it may not be improper to 
lake a view of his previous operations. 

2 Commodore Chauncey arrived at Sackett's Harbour on 
the 6th of October, 1812, as commander of the United States 
forces on the lakes, at which time the only American vessel 
on these waters was the brig Oneida of 18 guns. He imme- 
diately purchased six merchant vessels, schooners, which were 
fitted out as gun boats. His whole squadron mounted 40 guns 
of different calibres, with 450 men, including marines. The 
British force on Lake Ontario consisted at this time of th^e 
ship Royal George, of 26 guns and 260 men, ship Etirl Moira, 
18 guns and 200 men, and the schooners Prince Regent, 18 
guns and 250 men, Duke of Gloucester, 14 guns and 80 men, 
Torento, 14 guns and 80 men. Governor Simcoe, 12 guns and 
70 men, and Seneca, 4 guns and 40 men, making a grand total 
of 108 guns and 890 men. Chauncey's squadron, especially the 
schooners, were poor vessels and dull sailers, but his men 
were much superior, a great part of the enemy's sailors at 
this time being Canadians. 

On the 8th of November Chauncey sailed in the Oneida 
with his six schooners, in pursuit of the enemy, and on the 
same day fell in with the Royal George, which he chased into 
the bay of Quanti, where he lost sight of her in the night. 
Next morning he again discovered her in Kingston channel, 
and immediately gave chase, and fallowed her into the harbour 
of Kingston, where he engaged her and the batteries for an 
hour and three quarters. Chauncey had made up his mind to 
board her, notwithstanding she was protected by the batteries; 
but the wind bio whig directly in, the pilots refused to take 
charge of the vessels, and it was therefore deemed imprudent 
to make the attempt at this time. He accordingly hauled off 
and beat up under a heavy fire from the enemy to Four-mile 
point, where the squadron anchored. During the night it blew 
heavy, with squalls from the westward, and there being every 
appearance of a gale of wind, the pilot became alarmed, and 
Chauncey thought it most prudent to get into a place of more 
safety, and therefore reluctantly deferred renewing the attack 
until a more favourable opportunity. 



108 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

The sigr.al was made to weigh at 7 next morning, and the 
squadron beat out of a very narrow channel, under a heavy 
press of sail, to the open lake. At 10 they fell in with the 
GoveiTjor Simcoe, which escaped into Kingston harbour by 
running over a reef of rocks, under a heavy fire from three of 
the schooners, during which all her people ran below. It now 
con ing on to blow very heavy, Chauncey bore up for Sackett*s 
Harbour, and on his way thither captured two schooners one 
of which was burnt, after taking out her sails and rigging. 

The Oneida, in this affair, had one man killed, and three 
slightly wounded, and a few shot through her sails. The 
schooners lost no men by the enemy's fire and received but 
little injury in their hulls and sails. One of their guns, how- 
ever, burst early in the action, which wounded her commander 
badly, and a midshipman and three men slightly. The Royal 
George received considerable injury in her hull aLd in men, 
as the gun vessels, with their long thirty-two pounders, were 
seen to strike her almost every shot, and it was observed that 
she was reinforced with men three different times during the 
action. 

On the 1 2th, Chauncey learnt that the Earl Moira was off 
the False Ducks, aad immediately put off in a snow storm, in 
the hope of cutting her off from Kingston. In this he was 
fiisappointed, as she escaped into the harbour. A vessel un- 
der her convoy, however, was captured, in which was captain 
Brock, brother to the general. Chauncey now blockaded 
Kii^gston until the 7th of December, when he returned to 
Sackett's Harbour, being no longer able to keep the lake on 
recount of the ice. During the winter the ship Madison, of 
i;4 guns, was lauriched and fitted out. 

The capture of York and Fort George have already been 
voticed in pages 78 and 80 ^f this volume. After these events 
r.othing of importance occurred until the end of July, Chaun- 
cey being unable to keep the lake, owing to several new ves- 
sels being fitted out by the British, and the arrival of sir James 
Yeo, with a large body of seausen, to take command of th§^ 
British squadron on Lake Ontario. It may be proper to men^,; 
lion, however, that the brig Duke of Gloucester was captured 
at York; and on the 18th of June lieutenant Chauncey, in the 
uew schooner Lady of the Lake, captured the schooner Lady 
Murray, laden with provisions and ammunition, and sixteen 
officers and privates, besides the seamen. 

About the middle of July, the General Pike being ready to 
'^:nl, which brought the two squadrons nearly to a state of 
; oualiiv, Chauncev sailed from Sackett's Harbour, and stretch- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ] 09 

ing over for the enemy's shore, thence stood up the lake. He 
arrived off Niagara on the 27th. Here he was informed by- 
general Boyd, that the enemy had a considerable deposit of 
provisions and stores at Burlington Bay, which he determined 
to attempt to destroy, and for that purpose embarked a small 
number of regulars. At six o'clock on the morning of the 
28th, the fleet proceeded for the head of the lake, but owing 
to light winds and calms, did not arrive there before the even- 
ing of the 29th. Two parties were immediately sent on shore, 
who surprised and took some of the inhabitants, from whom 
it was learned, that the enemy had received considerable rein- 
forcements, and that his force in regulars was from six to eight 
hundred men. The troops, marines, and a few sailors were, 
however, landed next morning, but on reconnoitering the 
enemy's position, he was found posted on a peninsula of very 
high ground, strongly entrenched, and his camp defended by 
about eight pieces of cannon. In this situation it was not 
thought advisable to attack him with a force scarcely half his 
number, and without artillery; more especially as they were 
deficient in boats, not having a sufHcient number to cross the 
bay with all the troops at the same time. They accordingly 
re-embarked in the course of the afternoon, and in the evening 
weighed and stood for York, where they arrived on the after- 
noon of the 31st. The schooners ran into the inner harbour, 
where the marines and troops were landed without opposition. 
Several hundred barrels of flour and provisions were found in 
the public storehouse, together with five pieces of cannon, 
eleven boats, and a quantity of shot, shells, and other stores, 
all of which were either destroyed or brought away. Next 
morning, after burning the barracks and public storehouses, 
the men were re-embarked, and tfte fleet sailed for Niagara, 
where it arrived oa the 3d of August. 

At day light of the 7th, the enemy's fleet being discovered 
to windward, distant about five or six miles, Chauncey weighed 
and stood towards them. The whole of this and the next day 
was spent by the two squadrons in manoeuvering to gain a 
favourable position, in which Chauncey was much baffled by 
the dull sailing of his schooners, two of which were lost in a 
squall in the night, and every soul on board perished except 
sixteen. In the evening of the 8th, it being very squally, 
with the appearance of its continuing so during the night, 
Chauncey ran in towards Niagara, and anchored outside of the 
bar. 

The following morning (August 9th), Chauncey again weigh- 
ed and stood towards the enemy, when a trial of nautical 

K 2 



1 10 HISTORY OF THE WAll. 

skill once more commenced between the two conmiandeis, 
each entertainirg too respectful an opinion of the other's force 
to come to an engagement without having the advantage of the 
wind. In the course of the day the w'ind frequently veered, 
which instantly changed the characters of the pursuers and 
the pursued. At length, towards midnight, Yeo, whose ves- 
sels sailed much belter in squadron than those of Chauncey, 
succeeded in cutting off two of the American heavy-sailing 
schooners, which, added to Chauncey's loss in the squall, gave 
Yeo a considerable superiority of force over his opponent. — 
(Chauncey, therefore, ordered two of his dullest sailing vessels 
to run into Niagara, and stood with the rest of his squadron 
towards Sackett's Harbour, where he arrived on the 13th. 

Having victualled his squadron, which was reinforced with 
new schooner, Chauncey shortly after sailed on a cruise, and 
on the 7th of September, at day-light, while lying in Niagara 
river, discovered the enemy's fleet close in with the shore. — 
The signal was instantly made to weigh, and the fleet stood 
out of the river after him. Yeo immediately made all sail to 
the northward, and Chauncey pursued for four days, but was 
prevented from closing with him by the heavy sailing of his 
schooners. On the fourth day while off Genesee river, Chaun- 
cey was favoured with a breeze, while Yeo lay becalmed until 
his opponent got within about three quarters of a mile of him, 
when he took the breeze. The squadrons now had a running 
fight for three hours and a half, when the British go', out of 
gun-shot by their superior sailing. The next morning Yeo 
ran into Amherst bay, having been chased for five days with- 
out intermission. Amherst bay was so little known to the 
American pilots, and said to be so full of shoals, that they 
were not willing to take in the fleet; Chauncey, therefore, sta- 
lioned his vessels off Duck Island, with the intention of block- 
ading the enemy, and preventing them from getting out upon 
, Xhe lake. 

In the running fight which took place on the 11th, the Brit- 
ish sustained considerable injury both in men and vessels. On 
hoard the American fleet not a man was hurt, and the vessels 
sufi"ered no injury of any importatice. 

Chauncey continued his blockade until the 17th of Septem- 
ber, when, the wind blowing heavy from the westward, and the 
enemy having run into Kingston, he left his station for Sack- 
ett's Harbour, where he arrived the same night. Next morn- 
ing at day light he again sailed, and on the 19th saw the ene- 
my's fleet near the False ducks, but took no notice of him, as 
he wished him to follow up the lake. The squadron arrived 
in Niagara river on the 24th. 



HISTOUy OF THE WAR. I 1 i 

On the 26th, it was reported to Chauncey that the enemy's 
fieet was m York, when he immediately despatched the Lady 
of the Lake to ascertain the fact. She returned in the evening 
with the information that the enemy was in York bay. The 
squadron immediately weighed anchor, but, owing to a strong 
head wind, was not able to get out of the river till the evening 
of the 27th. Owing to the extreme darkness of the night a 
part of the squadron got separated, and did not join till next 
a^morning at eight, when the General Pike, Madison, and Sylph 
...each took a schooner in tow, and made all sail for York, and 
soon after discovering the enemy's fleet under way in York 
bay, the squadron shaped their course for them, and prepared 
for action. 

Yeo, perceiving that Chauncey intended to engage him in 
his position, tacked and stood out of the bay with the wind at 
east. Chauncey formed the line and ran down for his centre, 
and when he approached within about three miles of him, Yeo 
made all sail to the southward. Chauncey's squadron then 
wore in succession, and stood on the same tack with him, edg- 
ing down gradually in order to close; and about twelve o'clock, 
Yeo, finding he must either risk an action, or suffer his two 
rear vessels to be cut off, tacked his squadron in succession, 
)eginning at the van, hoisted his colours, and commenced a 
well-directed fire at the Pike,. for the purpose of covering his 
rear, and attacking the rear of his opponent as he passed to 
leeward. Chauncey perceived his intention, and therefore, 
as soon as the Wolfe, the enemy's leading ship, passed the cen- 
tre, and got abeam of the American squadron, he bore up in 
succession, preserving the line, for the centre of the British 
squadron. This manoeuvre of Chauncey's not only covered 
his rear, but threw the enemy into confusion, and caused him 
immediately to bear away. Chtiuncey had nov/, however, clos- 
ed so near as to make his guns to bear with effect, and in twen- 
ty minutes the main and mizen topmast and main yard of the 
Wolfe were shot away. Yeo immediately put before the wind, 
and set ai! sail upon his fore-mast; Chauncey made the signal 
for the fleet to make all sail; but the enemy, by keeping dead 
before the v. ind, which brought all the sail upon one mast, and 
prevented his feeling the loss of his main and mizen topmast, 
was enabled to outsail most of Chauncey's squadron. The 
chase was continued till near three o'clock, during the whole 
of which the Pike, with the Asp in tow, was within point-blank 
shot of the enemy, and sustained the v/hole of his fire. Cap- 
tain Crane in the Madison, and lieutenant Brown in the Onei- 
da, used every exertion to close with the enemy; but the Ma- 



112 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

dison having a heavy schooner in tow, and the Oneida sailing 
very dull before tlie wind, prevented those officers from clos- 
ing near enough to do any execution with their carronades.—- 
The Governor Tompkins kept in her station, until her fore- 
mast was so badly "wounded as to oblige her to shorten sail. 

Commodore Chauncey now reluctantly relinquished the pur- 
suit. The reasons which induced this determination are thus 
stated in his letter to the secretary of the navy: " At the time 
I gave up the chase, the ship was making so much water, that 
it required all our pumps to keep her free (owing to our re- 
ceiving several shot so much below the water edge, that we 
could not plug the holes from the outside); the Governor 
Tompkins with her fore-mast gone; and the squadron within 
about six miles of the head of the lake, it blowing a gale of 
wind from east, and increasing, with a heavy sea on, and every 
appearance of the equinox. I considered that if I chased the 
enemy to his anchorage at the head of the lake, I should be 
obliged to anchor also; and although we might succeed in driv- 
ing him on shore, the probability was, that we should go on 
shore also — he amongst his friends, we amongst our enemies; 
and after the gale abated, if he could succeed in getting off 
one or two vessels out of the two fleets, it would give him as 
completely the command of the lake as if he had twenty ves- 
sels. Moreover he was covered at his anchorage by a part 
of his army, and several small batteries thrown up for the pur- 
pose. Therefore, if we could have rode out the gale, we 
should have been cut up by their shot from the shore: under 
all these circumstances, and taking into view the consequences 
resulting from the loss of our superiority on the lakes at this 
time, I without hesitation relinquished the opportunity then 
presenting itself of acquiring individual reputation at the ex- 
pense of my country." 

The loss sustained by the PikC; the commodore's ship, was 
considerable, owing to her being so long exposed to the fire 
of the whole of the enemy's fleet; but her most aerious loss 
was occasioned by the bursting of one of her guns, which kill- 
ed and wounded twenty-two men, and tore up the top-gallant 
fore-castle, which rendered the gun upon that deck useless. — 
Four other guns were cracked in the muzzle, which rendered 
their use extremely doubtful. Her main-top-gallant mast was 
shot away in the early part of the action, and the bow-sprit, 
fore and main-mast wounded, rigging and sails much cut up, 
and a number of shot in her hull, several of which were be- 
tween wind and water, and twenty-seven men killed and 
wounded, including those by the bursting of the gun. The 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 113 

Madison received a few shot, but no person was hurt on board. 
The Governor Tompkins lost her fore-mast, and the Oneida 
had her main-top-mast badly wounded. 

During the chase, one or two of the enemy's small vesselr, 
v;ere completely within Chauncey's power, but in the eager- 
ness of his pursuit of the larger, he passed them unnoticed, by 
which means they finally escaped. 

Meanwhile general Wilkinson had arrived at Fort George, 
in order to take the command of the army. About the same 
time the secretary of war arrived at Sackett*s Harbour, in or- 
der to be more conveniently situated for superintending milita- 
ry operations. * 

The wind still continuing unfavourable for an attack on the 
British squadron at the head of the lake, Chauncey ran off Nia- 
gara for the purpose of communicating with Wilkinson, to as- 
certain when he meant to move with the army to Sackett*s Har- 
bour. It was the general's opinion, that the public service 
would be best promoted by his watching the enemy's squad- 
ron, or, if possible, preventing its retarn to Kingston, while he 
moved with the army down the lake. Chauncey, therefore, 
having taken part of the troops on board his squadron, the re- 
mainder proceeding in boats to Sackett's Harbour, immediate- 
ly proceeded in quest of the enemy. The following morning, 
October 2d, he discovered the British squadron standing to- 
wards him, and made all sail in chase ; but as soon as the fleets 
approached so near as plainly to discern each other) Yeo put 
about, and stood towards the head of the lake. The chase con* 
tinued until the 4th, little progress being made against the 
current, from the lightness or variableness of the wind, the 
British, however, evidently gaining ground of the American 
squadron The morning of the 4th proving hazy, nothing could 
be seen of the enemy, and about noon it fell calm, when Chaun- 
cey ordered the Lady of the Lake to sweep up to Burlington 
bay, which was not far distant, to ascertain whether or not the 
squadron was there. In the evening she returned with infor- 
mation that the fleet was gone, their being nothing in the bay 
but two gun-boats. 

It was now evident that Yeo, availing himself of the dark- 
ness of the preceding night, had either run for Kingston, or 
down the lake for the purpose of intercepting the flotilla with 
the army. Chauncey, therefore, immediately made all sail, and 
shaped his course for the Ducks, with a view of intercepting 
him, or his prizes, if he should have made any. The wind 
blowing a strong gale from the northward and westward, the 
fleet n-iade a great run, and at three in the afternoon of the 5th, 



114 niSTOUY OF THE WAR. 

discovered seven sail near the False Ducks, to which, presum- 
ing they were the enemy's fleet, they instantly gave chase. In 
about an hour, however, they were discovered to be sloops and 
schooners, and were perceived to be separating on different 
tacks, on which the Sylph and the Lady of the Lake were dis- 
patched after one part, and Chauncey in the Pike pursued the 
others. About five o'clock the enemy, finding that the Pike 
was fast gaining on him, took the people out of one of his gun 
vessels which sailed worse than the rest, and set her on fire. 
This, however, availed them but little, for, at sun-down, three 
of their vessels were forced to strike to the Pike, and soon af- 
ter the Sylph captured another. A fifth ran into the Ducks, 
but the Sylyh, which was left to watch her, took possession of 
her early next morning. A small schooner was the only ves- 
sel that escaped, owing to the darkness of the night. 

The captured vessels were found to be gun-vessels, with 
troops from the head of the lake, but last from York, bound to 
Kingston. Two of them were the Julia and Growler, which 
Chauncey had lost in the action of the 9th of August. The 
prisoners taken amounted to nearly 300, principally belonging 
to the De Watteville, a German regiment. From them it was 
learnt that the British fleet, in the action of the 28th of Sep- 
tember, at the head of the lake, was very much cut up in their 
hulls and spars, and had a great many killed and wounded^ 
particularly on board of the Wolfe, and Royal George. 

In addition to the army in Ohio, and that on the Niagara 
frontier, a considerable body of troops was collected in the sum- 
mer of 1812, upon lake Champlain, a number of vessels also 
were built to gain the command of those waters. In the cam- 
paign of that year, however, no important movement was made 
in this quarter. Towards the end of May, 1813, several of the 
British gun-boats having crossed the lines, for the purpose of 
capturing the craft upon the lake, two of the American armed 
sloops, the Eagle and Growler, sailed from Plattsburg on the 
2d of June for their protection. They arrived within about a 
mile of the lines about dark, where they cast anchor for the 
night. Next morning, about day-break, they discovered three 
British gun-boats, to which they gave chase, but the wind be- 
ing south, they unfortunately ran so far into the narrow chan- 
nel that they found it difiicult to return, and the Eagle, not be- 
ing sufficiently strong for her weight of metal, became unman- 
ageable, and at last went down; the water, however, being shoal, 
the crew were saved. The Growler, unwilling to abandon her 
companion, continued to fight until after the Eagle sunk, when 
she was compelled to strike to superior force. The enemy 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 115 

had five gun-boats in the action, besides a considerable force 
in musquetry on both sides of the channel, which was so nar- 
row as to place the sloops within their reach from both shores. 
An official account of this affair has not been published, but it 
is stated, on the authority of the enemy, that they had two kill- 
ed, the Americans only one, but a considerable number of the 
latter were wounded. The British afterwards succeeded in 
raising the Eagle. 

The loss of the sloops giving the British the superiority on 
the lake, on thQ 30th of July a considerable force crossed the 
lines in forty-four barges, protected by the Growler and Eagle, 
three row-gallies, and a gun-boat, under the command of colo- 
nel Murray. The following day they appeared off Plattsburg, 
and a flag of truce was sent into the town to demand its surren- 
der, with the assurance, that if no resistance was made, private 
property should be respected. There being no troops in the 
place, of course there was no resistance, and the enemy landed 
and burnt the public buildings, consisting of a blockhouse, 
barracks, arsenal, Sec. when they again embarked. 

On the 2d of August the enemy appeared off Burlington, on 
the other side of the lake, where the American array was sta- 
tioned under general Hampton, and opened their fire from two 
sloops and a galley, which was returned from a battery in front 
of the town, the fire from which soon compelled them to make 
off. Several gun-boats and sloops lay under the battery, but 
were unable to pursue the enemy, having suffered severely in 
a gale a few days previous. 

In the month of October, Hampton's army crossed the lake, 
and proceeded towards the Canada lines, which they crossed 
about the 20th or 21st. The army moved in two divisions, one 
on each side of the Chateaugay river, and on two different days 
drove in the British pickets, one of which they succeeded in 
capturing. Every precaution had been taken by the enemy to 
intercept the progress of the army. The roads were filled v/ith 
trees, which they had previously felled in every direction; the 
bridges were destroyed, and the houses burnt or pulled down. 
Notwithstanding these impediments, however, they continued 
slowly to advance till the 26th, when the advanced guard was 
attacked on both sides of the river by a body of regulars, vol- 
tigeurs and Indians, posted in strong positions in a wood, flank- 
ed by the river and impassible swamps. The attack was seve- 
ral times renewed and the enemy always driven behind their 
works. On the 27th one of the divisions forded the river, and 
the whole army returned within the American lines to Four 
Corners. The British claimed great merit from the splendid 



116 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

victory, as they call it, which they assert was achieved by a 
force of only 300 men, against Hampton's whole army, which 
consisted of 3000 or 3500. From their own statement, how- 
ever, it would appear that their force was much larger than 
they represent it. They state it to have consisted of — 

" Captains Levesque and Debartzch, with their flank com- 
panies of the 5th battalion incorporated militia, together with 
about 200 of the Beauharnois division.'' 

" Lieutenant-colonel De Salaberry, with his voltigeurs, and 
captain Ferguson's light company of the Canadian regiment." 

Besides these, are mentioned, in the course of the action — 

" A lar^e body of Indians under captain Lamothe." 

" Lieutenant-colonel M'Donnell, of the Glengary light m^- 
fantry, with a part of his light brigade." "* 

These forces do not include the reinforcements which are 
stated to have arrived the following day. And yet we are 
gravely told, that, « though it may appear incredible, the whole 
force engaged on our side did not exceed 300 men."* 

But even allowing their forces to be as small as here repr^ 
sented, it by no means follows, either that a victory was gained, 
or that Hampton's measures were baffled. It does not appear 
that it was the intention of the American general to push on by 
this route to Montreal, for the reduction of which his small 
force was utterly incompetent, independent of the natural im- 
pediments which this part of the country presented to an in- 
vading army. There is no reason to doubt, indeed, that this 
movement was merely intended as a demonstration, to divert 
and distract the attention of the enemy from the movements 
on the St. Lawrence, and this end being completely attained, 
it was not the general's intention to risk the loss of any part, 
however small, of his army, by an attempt to force a position 
so strong as the British represent this to have been. 

General Wilkinson having transported his army in safety 
from Fort George to Sackett's Harbour, in the beginning of 
October, hi a few days they were again moved to Grenadier 
Island, with the intention of immediately proceeding down the 
St. Lawrence against Montreal. Considerable delay, however, 
took place; owing to the uncommon severity of the weather, 
and it was not until the 3d of November that he was enabled to 
move. On the evening of the 6th he reached Ogdensburg, 



* The statement here alluded to is not the official account. It 
is a detailed account^ afi/mrentUj ivritten by an officer who was 
/ire sent at the affair. 



HIbTOUY OF THE WAU- 117 

whence he m rote to general Hampton at Four corners (where 
he had established his head-quarters after his return from Ca- 
nada,) ordering him to form a junction with him on the St. 
Lawrence, and recommending St. Regis as the most suitable 
place, where he expected to be on the 9th. ^' On the subject 
of provisions," continues Wilkinson, " I wish I could give a 
favourable information; our whole stock of bread may be com- 
puted at about fifteen days, and our meat at twenty. On speak- 
ing on this subject to the secretary of war, he informed me am- 
ple magazines were laid up on lake Champlain, and therefore 
I must request of you to order forward two or three month's 
supply by the safest route, in a direction to the proposed scene 
of action. I have submitted the state of provisions to my gene- 
ral officers, who unanimously agree that it should not prevent 
the progress of the expedition; and they also agree in opinion, 
if you are not in force to face the enemy, you should meet us 
at St. Regis or its vicinity." 

A short distance above Ogdensburg, on the opposite side of 
ihe St. Lawrence, stands Prescot, a fortified post commanding 
the river. The lateness of the season not admitting of delay, 
Wilkinson determined to pass it in the night, in place of stop- 
ping to reduce it. This was effected on the night of the 6tl], 
without other loss than two privates killed and three wounded. 
In the course of the 8th the cavalry was crossed from the 
American to the Canada shore, and a detachment of the infan- 
try was landed, to prevent the enemy, who had previously lin- 
ed the shore with musquetry, from harrassing the boats in their 
passage down the river. A considerable body of the enemy 
from Kingston also, in concert with a heavy galley and a few 
gun'boats, hung on the rear of the Americans, and consider- 
ably retarded their progress. 

On the morning of the 1 0th, general Brown advanced down 
the river, for the purpose of clearing its banks, as a rapid, eiglit 
miles long, was expected to be passed iu the course of the day, 
in the passage of which, without this precaution, the army 
would be much exposed. About noon, the army was apprized 
by the report of artillery, that Brown was engaged some dis- 
tance below, and about the same time the enemy were observ- 
ed in their rear. Their galley and gun-boats having approach- 
ed the flotilla, and opened their fire, Wilkinson ordered a bat- 
tery of eighteen pounders to be planted, the shot from which 
soon compelled the vessels of the enemy to retire, together with 
their troops, after some firing between the advanced parties. 

The day was now so far spent, that the pilots did not dare to 
enter the rapid, and therefore the flotilla fell down abciit lv> o 

L 



i'^.S HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

jniles, and came to for the night. Early next morning every 
thing was ready to move, but it was still deemed imprudent to 
commit the flotilla to the rapid until the result of gen. Brown's 
affair should be ascertained. At half past 10, an officer arrived 
with information that Brown had forced the enemy to retire, 
and that he would reach the foot of the rapid early in the day. 
Orders were now given for the flotilla to sail; but at this mo- 
ment the enemy's gun-boats appeared and began to fire, and in- 
formation was received from general Boyd, that the enemy's 
troops were advancing in column, on which Wilkinson sent him 
orders to attack them. This report was soon contradicted; but 
their gun-boats continued to annoy the flotilla, and such a va- 
riety of reports of the movements and counter-movements of 
the troops on shore was brought to Wilkinson, as convinced 
him of their determination to hazard an attack, when it could be 
done to advantage. He therefore resolved to anticipate them; 
and directions were accordingly sent to general Boyd to throw 
the detachments under his command into three columns, to 
march upon the enemy, outflank them if possible, and take their 
artillery. The force under Boyd consisted of detachments 
iVom the first, third, and fourth brigades, which were formed 
agreeably to orders; and placed respectively under colonel 
Coles, general Covington, and general Swartwout. A report 
was now brought to Boyd from the rear guard, that a body of 
about 200 British and Indians had advanced into the woods that 
skirted his rear. General Swartwout, with the fourth brigade, 
was immediately ordered to dislodge them; general Covington, 
■<xhh the third brigade, being at the same time directed to be 
within supporting distance. General Swartwout dashed into 



ic woods, and with the 2 st infantry (a part of his brigade,) 
after a short skirmish, drove them back to the position of their 
main body. Here he was joined by General Covington. The 
enemy had judiciously chosen his ground among the deep ra- 
vines which every where intersected the extensive plain, and 
discharged a heavy and galling fire upon the advanced columns 
of the Americans. No opposition or obstacle, however, check- 
ed their ardour. The enemy retired for more than a mile be- 
iore their resolute and repeated charges. During this time, 
the detachment of the first brigade under colonel Coles, whose 
f^rcater distance from the scene of action retarded its arrival, 
rapidly entered the field. Being directed to attack the ene- 
■jnv's left flank, this movement was promptly and bravely exe- 
cuted, amid a shower of musquetry and sharpnel shells. The 
fight now became more stationary, until the brigade first en- 
i^ogcd, having expended all their ammunition, were directed 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. U^ 

to retire to a more defensible position to wait for a re-supply. 
This movement so disconnected the line, as to render it expe- 
dient for the first brigade likewise to retire. 

The artillery, excepting two pieces attached to the rear divi- 
sion (which from the nature of the ground, and the circuitous 
route they had to take, were likewise much retarded in their ar- 
rival), did not reach the ground until the line, for want of am- 
munition, had already begun to fall back. When they were ar- 
ranged, their fire was sure and destructive. When the artil- 
lery was finally directed to retire, having to cross a deep, and, 
excepting in one place, to artillery, impassable ravine, one 
piece was unfortunately lost, by the fall of its gallant com- 
mander, lieutenant Smith, and most of his men. 

The whole line was now re-formed on the borders of those 
woods from which the enemy had first been driven; when, night 
coming on, and the storm returning, Boyd, conceiving the ob- 
ject in view, which was to beat back the enemy that would re- 
tard the junction with the main body below, to have been ac» 
complished, directed the troops to return to the ground near 
the flotilla; which movoment was executed in good order, and 
without molestation from the enemy. 

As the American force in this action, which took place in 
the neighbourhood of Williamsburgh, consisted of indefinite 
detachments taken from the boats, it is impossible to say with 
accuracy what was the number on the field; but it was sup- 
posed to be about 1600 or 1700 men. The force of the enemy 
was estimated at from 1200 to 2000, expAisive of militiii. The 
British say their force did not exceed 800 rank and file, in 
which statement the militia and Indians are probably not ir- 
cluded. The Americans had 102 killed, and 237 wounded, 
among the latter general Covington mortally. The British 
state their loss at 22 killed, 147 wounded, and 12 missing. — 
Both parties claim the victory in this battle: the British, be- 
cause they captured a piece of cannon, and because the Ame- 
ricans retired from the battle ground; the Americans, because 
their object was fully attained, that of beating back the enemy, 
who was harrassing them in their progress down the river. — 
The British account states that they took upwards of 100 pri- 
soners, of which no mention is made by the Americans. 

At the time of this action general Wilkinson was confined 
to his bed, and emaciated almost to a skeleton, a disease with 
which he was assailed on the 2d of September, on his journey 
to Fort George, having with a few short intervals of conva- 
lescence, preyed on him ever since. 

The Americans having resumed their position on the banks 



;;:0 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

of the St. Lawrence, the infantry, being much fatigued, were 
re-embarked, and proceeded down the .river, without further 
annoyance from the enemy or their gun-boats, while the dra- 
goons with five pieces of light artillery, marched down the 
Canada shore without molestation. The next morning the 
flotilla passed safely down the rapids, and joined general Brown 
at Barnhart's near Cornwall, where he had been instructed to 
take post and wait their arrival. 

At Barnhart's, Wilkinson confidently expected to have heard 
of Hampton's arrival on the opposite shore, but immediately 
on his halting, colonel Atkinson waited on him with a letter 
iVom that ofiicer, in which, to the surprise and mortification of 
Wilkinson, Hampton declined the junction, and informed him 
that he was marching towards lake Champlain, by way of co- 
operating in the proposed attack on Montreal. The reason as- 
signed by Hampton for this measure, was the smallness of 
Wilkinson's stock of provisions, and the impossibility, from 
^he difficulty of transportation at this season, of his bringing 
more than each man could have carried on his back. " When 
1 reflected," says Hampton, " that in throwing myself upon 
your scanty means, I should be weakening you in your most 
vulnerable point, I did not hesitate to adopt the opinion, after 
consulting the general and principal officers, that by throwing 
myself back on my main depot, when all the means of trans- 
portation had gone, and falling upon the enemy's flank, and 
straining every effoj;t to open a communication from Platts- 
burg to Coghnawagej' or any other point you may indicate on 
the St. Lawrence, I should more effectually contribute to your 
success, than by the junction at St. Regis. The way is in ma- 
ny places blockaded and abated, and the road impracticable 
for wheel carriages during winter — but by the employment of 
ptick horses, if I am not overpowered, I hope to be able to 
prevent your starving. I have ascertained and witnessed that 
the plan of the enemy is to burn and consume every thing in 
our advance. My troops and other means will be described to 
you by colonel Atkinson. Besides the rawness and sickness, 
they ha e endured fatigues equal to a winter campaign, in the 
-late snows and bad weather, and are sadly dispirited and fallen 
off'; but upon this subject I must refer you to colonel Atkinson. 
With these means — what can be accomplished by human ex- 
ertion, I will attempt — with a mind devoted to the general ob- 
jects of the campaign." ^ 
Hampton's letter was immediately submitted to a council of 
war, composed of the general officers and the colonel -com- 
TT^anding the elite, the chief engineer, and the adjutant-gene- 



nisrOHY OF THE WAR. » -' i 

Yal, who unanimously gave it as their opinion, that " the attack 
9n Montreal should be aV)andoned for the present season, ari-i 
the army near Cornwall should be immediately crossed toiiie 
American shore for takini^ up winter quarters, and th?t this 
place afforded an eligible position for such quarters." This 
opinion was acquiesced in by Wilkinson, not, he states, from 
the want of provisions, because they could, in case of extremi- 
ty, have lived on the enemy, but because the loss of the divi- 
sion under general Hampton weakened his force too sensibly 
to justify the attempt. 

The army remained on the Canada shore until the next day. 
without seeing the enemy, and then crossed over and went in- 
to winter quarters at French Mills, near St. Regis, on tiic bor- 
ders of Lower Canada. 

Meanwhile general Harrison, having embarked at Detroit, 
with those of his troops whose term of service had not expir- 
ed, or who were not considered necessary for the defence of 
the country he had overrun, arrived at Buffaloe towards the.' 
end of October, and immediately proceeded to Fort George. — 
General Wilkinson having previously gone down the lake, and 
the fleet having not arrived for the transportation of Harrison'^ 
troops, arrangements were made by him and general M'Clure, 
whom he found in the command of Fort George, for an expe- 
dition against Burlington Heights, at the head of lake Ontario. 
Before the completion of these arrangements, however, com- 
modore Chauncey arrived with orders immediately to bring 
down Harrison's troops for the defence of Sackett's Harbour. 
Commodore Chauncey was extremely pressing for the troops 
immediately to embark, stating that the navigation with small 
vessels was very dangerous at this season, and that should the 
troops not get down before the lake was frozen, the safety of 
the fleet at the harbour might be seriously endangered. The 
general therefore reluctantly relinquished the expedition, fur- 
ther delay in proceeding down the lake being considered im- 
practicable. The troops were embarked about the middle of 
November, and shortly after arrived in safety at Sackett'i* 
Harbour. 

After the departure of general Harrison, the force at Fort 
George, under General M'Clure, consisted almost exclusively 
of militia and volunteers, whose term of service was on the 
point of expiring. The contemplated expedition against Bur-. 
lington Heights was once more undertaken, but the roads were 
found cut up in such a manner, and so obstructed by timber, 
that it was found impracticable to transport the artillery, aiu 
accordingly it was abandoned. 

L 2 



i22 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

The abandonment of this expedi.ion excited much dissatis- 
faction at Fort George, especially among the volunteers, many 
of whom had made considerable sacrifices to join the army, in 
the hope of being usefully and actively employed. Their term 
x)i service now expiring, M'Clure used every effort to engage 
ihem to remain for one or two months longer, but in vain. He 
was left on the 1 0th of December with not more than sixty ef- 
fective regulars to garrison Fort George. A council of officers 
was then held, who were unanimously of opinion that the fort 
should be immediately evacuated, the advance of the enemy, 
who by some means had obtained information of the state of the 
place, being within eight miles. Orders were accordingly given 
to transport all the arms, ammunition, and public stores of eve- 
ry description across the river, which was principally effected, 
though the enemy approached so rapidly that ten of the soldiers 
were made prisoners. The fort was blown up, and the town of 
Newark, a handsome little place of about 200 houses, situated 
a mile below the fort, was laid in ashes. " This act," general 
.M'Clure declares, " as distressing to the inhabitants as to my 
icelings, was by an order of the secretary at war." " The in- 
'labita'iits had twelve hours notice to remove their effects, and 
,nch as chose to come across the river were provided with all 
the necessaries of life." The only reason that we have seen 
assigned for this outrage is by no means satisfactory: " that the 
enemy might not have it in their power to quarter with their 
Indian allies in the village, and maraud and murder our citi- 
zens," and we are much pleased to see that the act is almost 
universally disapproved of. 

On the IQth of December about 4 in the morning, the British 
'.rossed the river a few miles above Fort Niagara, and succeed- 
ed in taking the place by storm about an hour before daybreak. 
The fort appears to have been completely surprised. The men 
were nearly all asleep in their tents, when the enemy rushed in 
and commenced a dreadful slaughter. Such as escaped the 
fury of the first onset, retired to the old mess-house, where they 
kept up a fire on the enemy, until a want of ammunition com- 
pelled them to surrender. The disaster is attributed and with 
too much appearance of probability, to gross neglect or trea- 
sonable connivance on the part of the commanding officer of the 
fort, who is stated to have been absent at the time it took place^ 
not\tithstandin-g the attack was expected, as appears from the 
general orders issued by M'Clure a few days previous. 

After the capture of the fort, the British with a large body 
of Indians, proceeded up the river as far as Lewistown, and, 
havinsT driven off a detachment of militia stationed at Lewis- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. T^S 

town Heights, burnt that village and those of Youngstown and 
Manchester, and the Indian Tuscarora village. A number of 
the inoffensive inhabitants are said to have been butchered by 
the savages. On the 30th another detachment of the British and 
Indians crossed the Niagara, near the Black Rock. They were 
met by the militia under general Hall; but overpowered by 
numbers, and the discipline of the enemy, the militia soon gave 
way and fled on every side, and every attempt to rally them 
was ineffectual. The enemy then set fire to Black Rock, when 
they proceeded to Buffaloe, which they likewise laid in ashes, 
thus completing the desolation of the whole of the Niagara 
frontier, as a retaliation for the burning of Newark. 

Serious apprehensions were entertained for the safety of the 
Beet at Erie; the enemy, however, did not attempt to penetrate 
further at the moment, and a sufficient force was soon collect- 
ed for its defence, which remained during the winter. 

While active operations were thus carried on, on the north 
and northwestemJ"rontier of the United States, the calamities 
of war began to extend to the southern portion. In the sum- 
mer of 1813, the Creek nation commenced hostilities by an at- 
tack on Fort Mims, a post upon the Tensaw river. Before we 
enter on a narrative of the events of this war, however, it will 
be proper to notice another important event which took place 
in this quarter, in the month of April; namely, the surrender 
of Mobile to the arms of the United States. 

By the treaty of St. Udefonso, concluded on the 1st of Octo- 
ber, 1800, between France and Spain, the latter, in consi- 
deration of certain stipulations in favour of the duke of Par- 
ma, ceded to the French republic " the colony or province 
of Louisiana; with the same extent that it now has in the 
hands of Spain, and that it had when France possessed it ; 
and such as it should be after the treaties subsequently enter- 
ed into between Spain and other states." By a treaty con- 
cluded at Paris, on the 30th of April, 1803, France ceded 
to the United States the territory she had acquired by the 
^reaty of St. Udefonso, " as fully and in the same manner 
:«.s they have been acquired by the French republic." In 
virtue of the above-mentioned treaties, the United States 
claimed as the southern portion of Louisiana, all the country 
lying between the Sabine and Perdido rivers. The Spanish 
government, however, resisted this claim, and contended that 
its eastern boundary was the river Mississippi, and the lakes 
Maurepas and Pontchartrain. This country has accordingly 
been the subject of negociation for several years, between the 
American and Spanish governments, the latter still holding 



124 UISTOUY OF THE WAR. 

possession of the country. This negociation -was put an end 
to by the troubles which took place in old Spain, in 1807; and 
a revolution breaking out in Florida, the United States, on the 
ground that Spain could no longer hold possession of the coun- 
try, and that her rights would be jeopardized or lost by suffer^ 
ing it to pass into the hands of a third party (the revolution- 
ists), on whom they could have no claim, took possession ol 
the whole disputed country, in 1812, except the post of Mobile, 
a small fortified town of about 400 inhabitants, situated on the 
west side of Mobile bay, which continued to he held by a 
Spanish garrison until the 15th of April, 1813, when it was 
summoned to surrender to the arms of the United States, un- 
der general Wilkinson, which was immediately done without 
the slightest opposition. 

The country of the Creek Indians, with whom the United 
States was at war, is situated in the western part of the state 
of Georgia, and the eastern part of the Mississippi territory, 
between the Oakmulgee and Tombigbee rivers: and extends 
from the Cherokee country, which borders on Tennessee, to 
Florida. In the course of the last summer, several families 
were murdered, near the mouth of the Ohio river, by a party 
of Indians passing from the great lakes to the Upper Creeks. 
The principal chiefs of the nation, on the application of the 
United States* agent, determined to punish the murderers by 
putting them to death, and a party of warriors was appointed 
to execute their determination. This was no sooner done, 
than the resentment of the friends of the murderers broke out 
in acts of open violence against all who had been in any way 
concerned in causing the murderers to be put to death, and a 
civil war was the consequence. It appears, however, that 
this circumstance only produced a premature disclosure of 
their object, as it has since been ascertained that most of the 
Upper Creeks had previously determined to take part with the 
northern Indians in their war with the United States. 

About the middle of July, the secretary at war wrote to 
the governor of Georgia, and at the same time transmitted a 
copy of his letter to the governor of Tennessee; stating, that 
information through various channels had reached the general 
government, of the hostility of a portion of the Creek nation, 
and of the necessity of breaking it down by some prompt and 
vigorous measures; and suggested the propriety of embody- 
ing a portion of the Georgia militia, who should either act 
iseparately agairst the enemy, or in concert with another corps 
of militia, drawn from Tennessee. This letter was received 
by governor Mitchell in the end of July, when he immediately 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 125 

toqk measures for calling out fifteen hundred of the Georgia 
militia, who were soon after marched to the Oakmulgee 
river. Their number was subsequently enlarged to a full 
brigade. 

Meanwhile appearances became every day more threatening. 
The friendly Indians were forced to leave their towns and 
retreat towards the white settlements, and fortify themselves 
against the attacks of the war party. The latter proceeded in 
great numbers to the south, where it is asserted they were 
supplied by the Spanish governor of Pensacola with arms 
and ammunition. At last, upon the 30th of August, 1813, they 
commenced hostilities against the United States, by an attack 
upon Mim's fort, on the Tensaw, a branch of the Mobile 
river, in the Mississippi territory, commanded by major Beas- 
ley. 

Information had been received aboiit a week previous, that 
a large number of Indians were approaching with hostile in- 
tentions, but the attack was wholly unexpected at the moment 
it occurred, which was about eleven in the forenoon. The 
whole garrison, however, was immediately under arms. The 
front gate being open, the enemy ran in great numbers to pos- 
sess themselves of it, and in the contest for it many fell on 
both sides. Sonn however, the action became general, the 
enemy fighting on all sides in the open field, and as near the 
stockade as they could get. The port-holes were taken and 
retaken several times. A block-house was contended for by 
captain Jack, at the head of his riflemen, for the space of an 
hour after the enemy were in possession of part of it; when 
they finally succeeded in driving his company into a house in 
the fort, and, having stopped many of the port-holes with the 
ends of rails, possessed themselves of the walls. The troops 
made a most gallant defence from the houses, but the enemy 
having set fire to the roofs, and the attempt to extinguish it 
proving unsuccessful, the few who now remained alive at- 
tempted a retreat, having previously thrown into the flames 
many of the guns of the dead. Few, however, succeeded in 
escaping. Major Beasley fell gallantly fighting at the head of 
his command, near the gate, at the commencement of the ac- 
tion. The other ofncers fell nobly doing their duty; the non- 
commissioned officers and soldiers behaved equally well. 

The loss of the Americans was great; sixty-five, including 
officers and men, of the Mississippi territory volunteers, and 
twenty-seven volunteer militia, were killed. Many respecta- 
ble citizens, with numerous families, who had abandoned 
their fa-rms, and fled to the fort ior security, were also killed. 



126 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

or burnt in the houses into which they fled. A detachment 
which was sent from cantonment Mount Vernon, on the 21st 
of September, to collect the bones of their countrymen, col- 
lected, and consigned to the earth, 247 persons, including men, 
women, and children. The detachment likewise searched the 
woods for bodies, where they found at least 100 dead Indians, 
who were covered with rails, brush, &c. These Indians had 
been interred with their war dresses and implements by which 
they were recognized. 

On the receipt of the disastrous intelligence of the destruc- 
tion of major Beasley's garrison, preparations were immediate- 
ly made for collecting a large force of Tennessee militia, and 
providing supplies for those of Georgia which had already 
assembled. The Tennessee militia were marched in two divi- 
sions, under the orders of major-generals Jackson and Cocke. 

On the 2d of November, majcSr-general Jackson dispatched 
brigadier-general Coffee from the camp at Ten-Islands, with 
900 men, consisting of cavalry and mounted riflemen, on an 
expedition against Tallushatches towns, where a considerable 
force of the Creeks was concentrated. Coffee arrived within 
a mile and a half of the town on the morning of the 3d, where 
he divided his force into two divisions, and directed them to 
march so as completely to encircle the town, which tvas effect- 
ed in a masterly manner. When they arrived within aboUt 
half a mile of the towns, the enemy began to prepare for ac- 
tion, which was announced by the beating of their drums, min- 
gled with savage yells. About an hour after sunrise the 
action \ias brought on by two companies, who had gone within 
Uie circle of alignment, for the purpose of drawing the enemy 
out from their buildings. As soon as the two companies exhi- 
bited their front in view of the town, and gave a few scattering 
shot, the enemy formed and made a violent charge upon them, 
on which they gave way, and were followed by the Indians, 
until they reached the main body, who immediately opened a 
general fire, and then charged. The Indians now, in their 
turn, retreating and firing, until they got around in their build- 
ings, when they made a most determined resistance, fighting 
to the very last moment, as long as they could stand or sit, not 
one shrinking or complaining; not one asking for quarter. 
Every warrior in the town was killed, and a^l the women and 
children were taken prisoners, except a few who were uninten- 
tionally slain, in consequence of the men flying lo the houses 
and mixing with their families, and at the same time refusing 
quarter. 

The number found kjllled of the enemy was 1S6, and a num- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 127 

beiT of others were killed in the woods, who were not found. 
The number of women and children taken was eighty-four. 
Of the Americans, five were killed, and forty-one wounded, 
the greater part slightly, none mortally; two of the killed were 
with arrows, which appeared to form a principal part of the 
arms of the Indians on this occasion, every man having a bow, 
with a bundle of arrows, which he used after the first fire 
with his gun, until a leisure time for loading offered. 

Coffee bestows much praise on his men, for their delibera- 
tion and firmness. "Notwithstanding our numbers," says he, 
" were far superior to that of the enemy, it was a circumstance 
to us unknown, and from the parade of the enemy we had 
every reason to suppose them our equals in number; but there 
appeared no visible traces of alarm in any; on the contrary 
all appeared cool and determined; and, no doubt, when they 
face a foe of their own, or superior number, they will show 
the same courage as on this occasion." 

The following day general Coffee returned with his detach- 
ment to the camp. 

Late on the evening of the 7th a friendly Indian arrived at 
the camp, who- brought intelligence that the enemy had ai^- 
rived in great numbers at Talledega, about thirty miles below 
the camp, where one hundred and sixty men of the friendly 
Creeks had erected a fort, the more effectually to resist the 
efforts of the hostile party, and where they were now stationed 
with their wives and children. The messenger represented 
that, unless speedy relief could be obtained from the army, 
the fort would certainly be taken. General Jackson imme- 
diately gave orders for takng up the line of march, with twelve 
hundred infantry and eight hundred cavalry and mounted rifle- 
men, leaving behind the sick, the wounded, and the baggage, 
with a sufiicient force for their protection. By twelve o'clock 
that -night the army was in motion, and commenced crossing 
the river opposite the encampment, which was effected in a 
few hours, and on the night of the 8ch the army encamped 
within six miles of the enemy. At eleven that night a soldier 
and two Indians, who had been sent forward to reconnoitre, 
returned with the intelligence that the enemy were encamped 
within a quarter of a mile of the fort; but they had not been 
able to approach near enough to ascertain either their number 
or precise situation. At midnight the adjutant-general wajs 
ordered to prepare the line of march; and by four o'clock the 
army was in motion. 

The infantry marched in three columns; the cavalry and 
mounted riflemen were in the rear, with flankers on each 



128 itl^TORY OF THE WAK. 

wing. The advance consisted of a company of artillery witli 
muskets, and two companies of riflemen. A company of spies 
marched four hundred yards in front of the v/hole, to bring on 
the engagement. Having arrived within a mile of the enemy 
at seven o'clock, two hundred and fifty of the cavalry and 
mounted riflemen were placed in the rear of the centre, as a 
corfis de reserve^ and the remainder were ordered to advance 
on the right and left of the infantry, and, after having encircled 
the enemy, by uniting the fronts of their columns, and keeping 
their rear connected with the infantry, to face and press in- 
wards towards the centre, so as to leave the enemy no possi- 
bility of escape. The infantry were ordered to advance by 
heads of companies, general Hall's brigade occupying the right 
and general Roberts the left. 

About eight o'clock the advance, having arrived within 
eighty yards of the enemy, who were concealed in a thick 
shrubbery which covered the margin of a rivulet, received 
from them a heavy fire, which they immediately returned, and 
then charged and dislodged them from their position. The 
advance now fell back, as they had been previously ordered, 
to the centre. On the approach of the enemy, three of the 
militia companies, having given one fire, commenced a retreat, 
notwithstanding the utmost exertions of their ofiicers. To 
fill up the vacancy occasioned by this retreat, Jackson imme- 
diately ordered up a re^giment of volunteers; but finding the 
advance of the enemy too rapid to admit of their arrival in 
time, the reserve was ordered to dismount and meet them. — • 
This order was executed with great promptitude and gallan- 
try, and the retreating militia, seeing the spirited stand made 
by the reserve, immediately i^llied, and recovered their posi- 
tion, pouring in upon the enemy a most destructive fire. The 
engagement now became general; and in fifteen minutes the 
Indians were seen flying in every direction. On the left they 
were met and repulsed by the mounted riflemen; but on the 
right it unfortunately happened that too great space had been 
left between the cavalry and infantry, by which numbers es- 
caped. They were pursued, however, for three miles to the 
mountains, with great slaugliter. 

The force of the enemy was represented by themselves at 
a thousand and eighty, two hundred and ninety-nine of whom 
vyere left dead on the ground, and a great many were killed 
in their flight. It is believed that very few escaped without a 
wound. The American loss was fifteen killed and eighty 
wounded. 

On the 1 1th of Nov^ember, general Cocke, who commanded 



HliTOKY OF THE WAR. 

the Other division of the Tennessee rniliti?, ordered brigadier- 
general White, with a detachment of mounted infantry and 
cavalry, to proceed from Fort Armstrong, whery tliis division 
was stationed, on an expedition against the Hillibee towns 
of the hostile creeks on the Tallapoosie river. This expedi- 
tion was completely successful. They penetrated one hundred 
miles into the enemy*s country, and burned four of their villa* 
ges, three of which they found deserted. Previous to their 
arrival at the fourth, they learned that a party of the hostile 
Creeks were assembled there. Having marched the whole 
of the night of the 17th, they surrounded and completely sur- 
prised the town at day-light of the morning of the 18th, and of 
the whole party, which consisted of three hundred and sixteen, 
not one escaped, sixty being killed and the remainder made 
prisoners. The detachment now returned to camp, where they 
arrived on the 23d, having lost not one drop of blood in this 
enterprise. The country through which they marched was 
exceedingly rough and hilly, and they had to pass several nar- 
row defiles, where it was necessary to use the utmost precau- 
tion. The troops and horses, likewise, had to be subsisted, in 
a great degree, on such supplies as could be procured in the 
enemy's country, which rendered their march more tardy than 
it would otherwise have been. " ' 

The Georgia militia, though embodied before those of Ten- 
nessee, were not able, from the want of military supplies, to 
proceed to active operations till the end of November. Bri- 
gadier-general Stewart had been originally destined for the 
command, as the senior brigadier; but family considerations 
inducing him to decline its acceptance, brigadier-general 
Floyd was appointed in his room. 

Towards the end of November, Floyd received information 
that numbers of the hostile Indians were assembled at Autos- 
see, a town on the southern bank of the Tallapoosie river, about 
twenty miles above its junction with the Coosa. He imme- 
diately left his camp, which was situated on the west side of 
the Chatahouchie river, and proceeded against the enemy with 
nine hundred and fifty militia, and between three and four hun- 
dred of the friendly Creeks. On the evening of the 28th the 
detachment encamped within nine or ten miles of the place of 
destination, and having resumed their march about one next 
morning, at half past six they were formed for action in front 
of the town. The detachment was formed in two columns, 
with a rifle company on each flank, and a company of artillci y 
in front of the right column. 

It was Floyd's intention to have completclv surrounded the 

M 



loU IIISTOJIY OF THE WAR. 

enemy, by resting the right wing of his force on Canlebee 
creek, at the mouth of which he M'as informed their town 
stx)od, and resting his left on the river bank below the town; 
but to his surprise, as the day dawned, he perceived a second 
town about 500 yards below that which he was preparing to 
attack. The plan, therefore, was instantly changed; three 
companies of infantry on the left were wheeled to the left en 
echelon^* and advanced to the lov/er town, accompanied by a 
rifle company and two troops of light dragoons. The remain- 
der of the force approached the upper town, and the battle 
sooh became geneial. The Indians presented themselves at 
every point, and fought with desperate bravery; but the well 
directed fire of the artillery and the bayonets of the infantry 
soon forced them to take refuge in the out-houses, thickets and 
copses in the rear of the town. Many, it was supposed, se- 
cured themselves in caves, previously formed for this purpose 
in the high bluff of the river, which was thickly covered with 
reeds and brush-wood. It was intended that the friendly In- 
dians should have crossed the river above the town, and been 
posted on the opposite shore during the action, to fire on such 
of the enemy as should attempt to escape, or to keep in check 
any reinforcements which might be attempted to be thrown in 
from the neighbouring towns. Owing to the difficulty of the 
ford, however, and the coldness of the weather and lateness of 
the hour, this arrangement failed, and their leaders were di- 
rected to cross Canlebee creek, and occupy that flank, to pre- 
vent escapes from the Tallisee town. Some time after the 
action commenced, the friendly Indians thronged in disorder 
in the rear of the militia, when the hostile tribes fell on the 
flanks of the detachment, and fought with great intrepidity. — 
By nine o'clock, however, the enemy was completely driven 
from the plains, and the houses of both towns were wrapped 
in flames. 

It was impossible to determine the strength of the enemy, 
hut from the information of some of the chiefs, which it is 
suid could be relied on, there were assembled at Autossee, 
warriors from eight towns for its defence, it being their be- 
loved gro\ind, on which they proclaimed no white man could 



* A fioaition-in'ivhich each division folloivs the preceding one^ 
like the atcps of a ladder (echelle), /rom ivhich the ivord is 
derived. A position en enchelon is convenient in removing 
from a direct to an oblique or diagonal line. — Duane's Military 
Dictionary. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. , 131 

approach without inevitable destruction. Neither was it pos- 
sible to ascertain their loss; but from the number which were 
lying scattered over the field, together with tliosc destroyed 
in the towns, and those slain on the bank of the river, whom 
respectable officers affirmed they saw lying in heaps at the 
■\vater*s edge, where they had been precipitated by tljeir sur- 
viving friends, their loss, in killed alone, must have been at 
least 200, among whom were the Autossec and Talliscc kings. 
The number of buildings burnt is supposed to he 400; some 
of them were of a superior order for the dwellings of savages, 
and filled with valuable articles. The Americans had eleven 
killed and fifty-four wounded, among the latter was general 
Floyd. 

The detachment being now sixty miles from any depot of 
provisions, and their rations pretty nearly consumed, as soon 
as the dead and wounded were properly disposed of, the place 
was abandoned, and the troops commenced their march back 
to the camp on the Chatahouchie, a measure the more neces- 
sary as they were in the heart of an enemy's country, which 
in a few days could have poured from its numerous towns 
hosts of waii'iors. I'hey arrived at the camp in safety, having 
marched 120 miles in seven days. 

On the 9th of December another detachment of the Geor- 
gia militia, consisting of about 530 men, under the commaiid 
of general Adams, marched on an expedition against the Creek 
towns on the Tallapoosie river. Notwithstanding the precau- 
tions which they used to prevent the Indians from liearing of 
their approach, they found the villages desertetl, and were 
unable to bring the enemy to action, though their yells were 
repeatedly heard on both sides of the river. Having burnt 
two of their villages, therefore, the detachment returned to 
camp. 

Twenty-three of the American soldiers who were made pri- 
soners at the battle of Queenstown, in the autumn of 1812, 
were sent to England, where they were detahied in rigorous 
confinement as British subjects. On this being made known 
to the government of the United States by the American com- 
missary of prisoners at London, oitlers were issued to general 
Dearborn to place in close confinement a like number of Brit- 
ish soldiers, to be kept as hostages for the safety and exchange 
of the American prisoners. This order was carried into exe- 
cution by the imprisonment of twenty-three of the prisoners 
captured at Fort George, in May 1813» of which general 
Dearborn apprised the governor of Canada in a letter dated 
the 51st of that month. 



132 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

General Dearborn's letter was transmitted to the British 
government, who iramecUately instructed governor Prevost to 
state to tlie commander of the American forces, for the infor- 
mation of his government, that he was commanded *» forthwith 
to put in close confinement forty-six American officers and 
non-commissioned officers, to be held as hostages for the safe 
keeping of the twenty-three British soldiers stated to have 
been put in close confinement by order of the American gov- 
ernment. 

" I have been directed at the same time to apprise you," 
continues Prevost, in a letter to general Wilkinson, " that if 
any of the said British soldiers shall suffer death by reason 
that any of the said soldiers of the United States now under 
confinement in England have been found guilty, and that the 
known law, not only of Great Britain, but of every independent 
state under similar circumstances, has been in consequence 
executed, that I have been further instructed to select out of 
the American officers and non-commissioned officers, whom I 
shall have put into confinement, as many as may double the 
number of the British soldiers who shall have been so unwar- 
rantably put to death, and to cause such officers mud non-com- 
missioned officers to suffer death immediately. I have been 
further instructed by his majesty's government to notify you, 
for the information of the government of the United States, 
that the couimanders of his majesty's armies and fleets on the 
coasts of America, have received instructions to prosecute 
the war with unmitigated severity against aU cities, towns, and 
villages belonging to the United States, and against the inha- 
bitants thereof, if, after this communication sliail have been 
made to you, and a reasonable time given for its being trans- 
mitted to the American government, that government shall 
unhappily not be deterre-d from putting to death any of the 
soldiers who now are, or who may hereafter be kept as hos-"^ 
tages for the purposes stated in the letter from major-general 
Dearborn.^' 

General Wilkinson, in his answer to general Prevost's let- 
ter, states, that he should immediately transmit a copy of it 
to ihe executive of the United States. " I forbear,*' conti- 
nues Wilkinson, " to animadvert on the acts of our superiors, 
whatever may be their tendency; but you must pardon me for 
taking exception to an expression in your letter. The gov- 
ernment of the United States cannot be * deterred,' by any 
considerations of life or death, of depredation or conflagra- 
tion, from the faithful discharge of its duty to the American 
nation." 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 1 :.' 

In a subsequent communication, general Wilkinson stated, 
that " the government of the United Stales, adlieiing unalte- 
rably to the principle and purpose declared in the communica- 
tion of general Dearborn, on the subject of the twenty-three 
American soldiers, prisoners of war, sent to Engla.id to be tried 
as criminals; and the confinement of a like number of British 
soldiers, prisoners of war, selected to abide the fate of the for- 
mer; in consequence of the step taken by the British govern- 
ment, as now communicated; ordered forty-six British officers 
in close confinement, and that they will not be discharged from 
their confinement, until it shall be known that the forty-six Ame- 
rican officers and non-comwiissioned officers in question are no 
longer confined.'' 

General Prevost, on the receipt of this letter, ordered all 
American officers, prisoners of war, witi.out exception of rank, 
to be immediately placed inclose confinement, as hostage^ for 
the forty-six British officers so confined, until the number of 
forty-six be completed, over and above those now in confine- 
ment. 

A very interesting correspondence, upon a somewhat simi- 
lar subject, between general Harrison and the British general 
Vincent, was published about this period. After the capture 
.of the British army, in the battle on the Thames, general Proc- 
tor sent a flag with a letter to general Harrison, requesting 
humane treatment for the prisoners in his possession, and the 
restoration of private property and papers. Harrison addres- 
sed his answer on the subject to general Vincent, as the se- 
nior officer. 

"With respect to the subject of General Proctor's letter," 
says Harrison, " those which I have the honour to enclose you 
from the British officers, who were taken on the fifth ultimo, 
to their friends, and the report of ?vlr. Le Briton, will satisfy 
you that no indulgence which humanity could claim in their 
favour, or the usages of war sanction, has been withheld. The 
disposition of the property taken on the field of action or near 
it, was left to the commanding officer at Detroit. The instruc- 
tions given to that gentleman, and the well known generositv 
of his character, will ensure to the claimants the utmost jus- 
tice and liberality in his decisions. In making this statement, 
I wish it however to be distinctly understood, that my conduct 
with regard to the prisoners and property taken, has been dicta- 
ted solely by motives of humanity , and not by a belief that it could 
be claimed upon the score of reciprocity of treatment towards 
the American prisoners who have fallen into the hands of gene- 
ral Proctor. The unhappy description of persons who have es- 

M 2 



-^ i KiSTOHY Oii THk. \VAti 

caped the tomahawk of the savages in the employment of the 
British government, who fought under tlie immediate orders 
of that olTicer, have suffered all the indignities and depriva- 
tions which human nature is capable of supporting. There is 
no single instance that I have heard of, in which the property 
of the officers has been respected. But I am far from believing 
that the conduct of general Proctor has been thought an exam- 
ple worthy of imitation by the greater part of the British offi- 
cers; and in the character of general Vincent, I have a pledge 
that he will unite his exertions with mine to soften as much as 
possible the fate of those whom the fortune of war may reci- 
procally place in our power. 

*' But, sir, there is another subject upon which I wish an 
explicit declaration. Will the Indians who still adhere to the 
cause of his Britannic Majesty, be suffered to continue that 
horriblcj species of warfare which they have heretofore prac- 
ticed against our troops, and those still more horrible depreda- 
tions upon the peaceable inhabitants of our frontiers ? I have 
sufficient evidence to show that even the latter have not al- 
ways been perpetrated by small parties of vagrant Indians, 
acting at a distance from the British army. Some of the most* 
atrocious instances occurred under the eyes of the British 
commander and the head of the Indian department. I shall pass 
by the tragedy of the river Raisin, and that equally well known 
which was acted on the Miami river after the defeat of colonel 
Dudley — and select three other instances of savage barbarity 
r.ommitted under the auspices of general Proctor — In the be- 
l^inning of June a small party of Indians, conducted by an Ot- 
loway chief, who I believe is now with the British army under 
your command, left Maiden in bark canoes, in which they coast- 
ed Lake Erie to the mouth of Portage river; the canoes were 
♦.aken across the Portage to the Sandusky bay, over which the 
party proceeded to the mouth of Cold Creek, and from thence 
by land to the settlements upon that river, where they captured 
three families, consisting of one man and twelve women and 
children. After taking the prisoners some distance, one of 
the women was discovered to be unable to keep up with them 
in consequence of her advanced state of pregnancy. She was 
immediately tomahawked, stripped naked, her womb ripped 
open, and the child taken out. Three or four of the children 
were successively butchered as they discovered theiv inabi- 
lity to keep up with the party. Upon the arrival of the In- 
dians at Maiden, two or three of the prisoners were ransom- 
ed by colonel Elliot and the others by the citizens of Detroit, 
where they remained until they were taken off by their friends 



illSrORY OF THK VVAU. iS5 

upon the recovery of tliat place by our army. I have been in- 
formed that the savage chief received from colonel Elliot a 
reprimand for his cruelty. 

" On the 29th or 30th of the same month, a large party of 
Indians were sent from Maiden on a war expedition to Lower 
Sandusky. At a farm house near that place, they murdered 
the whole family, consisting of a man, his wife, son, and daugh- 
ter. 

" During the last attack upon Fort Meigs by general Proc- 
tor, a party headed by a Seneca, an intimate friend of Tecum- 
seh's, was sent to endeavour to detach from our interest the 
Shawanese of Wapockanata. In their way thither they mur- 
dered several men, and one woman who was working in her 
cornfield. 

" 1 have selected, sir, the above from a long list of similar 
mstances of barbarity, which the history of the last fifteen 
months could not furnish; because they were perpetrated, if 
not in the view of the British commander, by parties who came 
immediately from his camp and returned to it — who even re- 
ceived their daily support from the king's stores, who in fact 
(as the documents in my possession will show) form part of 
iiis army. 

" To retaliate then upon the subjects of the king would 
have been justifiable by the laws of war and the usages of the 
most civilized nations. To do so has been amply in my power. 
The tide of fortune has changed in our favour, and an exten- 
sive and flourishing province opened to our arms. The fu- 
ture conduct of the British officers will determine the correct- 
ness of mine in withholding it. If the savages should be again 
let loose upon our settlements, I shall with justice be accused 
of having sacrificed the interests and honour of my country, 
and the lives of our fellov/ citizens, to feelings of false and 
mistaken humanity. You are a soldier, sir, and, as I sincerely 
believe, possess all the honourable sentiments which ought 
always to be found in men who follow the profession of arms. 
Use then, I pray you, your authority and influence to stop the 
dreadful effusion of innocent blood which proceeds from the 
employment of those savage monsters, whose aid (as must 
now be discovered) is so little to be depended upon when it is 
most wanted,, and which can have so trifling an eff'ect upon the 
issue of the war. The effect of their barbarities will not be 
confined to the present generation. Ages yet to come will 
feel the deep rooted hatred and enmity which they must pro- 
duce between the two nations. 

" I deprecate most sincerely the dreadful alternative which 



136 HISTORY OF THE WAU. 

•will be offered to me should ihey be continued, but I solemnly 
declare, that if the Indians that remain under the influence of 
the British government are suffered to commit any depreda- 
tions upon the citizens within the district that is committed to 
my protection, I will remove the restrictions which have hith- 
erto been imposed upon those who have offered their services 
to the United States; and direct them to carry on the war in 
their own way. I have never heard a single excuse for the 
employment of the savages by your government, unless we can 
credit the story of some British officer having dared to assert, 
that, ' as we employed the Kentuckians, you had a right to 
make use of the Indians.' If such injurious sentiments have 
really prevailed, to the prejudice of a brave, well informed, and 
virtuous people, it will be removed by the representations of 
your officers who were lately taken on the river Thames. — 
They will inform you, sir, that so far from offering any violence 
llo the persons of their prisoners, these savages would not per- 
mit a word to escape them which was calculated to wound or 
insult their feelings, and this too with the sufferings of their 
friends and relatives at the river Rasin and Miami, fresh upon 
their recollection. 

" P. S. I pledge myself for the truth of the above statement 
in relation to the murders committed by the Indians." 

General Vincent, in reply, stated, that "the account given 
of the British officers, whom the fortune of war has lately pla- 
ced at the disposal of the United States, is such, as cannot fail 
affording very consoling reflections to this army and their 
anxious friends. 

" Though you must be sensible," continues he " that there 
are several points in your letter respecting which it is wholly 
beyond my power to afford yoii the satisfaction of an ' explicit 
declaration,' yet be assured, sir, I shall never feel the smallest 
degree of hesitation in joining you in any pledge, that it will 
ever be m.y anxious wish and endeavour to alleviate as much 
as possible, the fate of those who may fail into my power by 
the chances of war. 

" Believe me, sir, I deprecate as strongly as yourself the 
perpetration of acis of cruelly committed under any pretext; 
and shall lament equally with yourself that any state of things 
should produce them. No efforts of mine will be ever want- 
ing to diminish the evils of a state of warfare as far as may 
be consistent with the duties which are due to my king and 
country. 

" The Indians when acting in conjunction with the troops 
under my command, have been invariably exhorted to mercy, 



HISTORY OF THJS WAR. 13^ 

and have never been deaf to my anxious entreaties on this in- 
teresting subject. 

*' I shall not fail to transmit the original of your letter to the 
lower province, for the consideration of his excellency the 
commander of the forces.'* 

The war with Great Britain, during the two first campaigns 
was productive of no events which materially altered the situ- 
ation of the two countries. With suflicient occupation for her 
troops in the European peninsula, and with every nerve strain- 
ed in bringing forth her pecuniary resources, for the support 
of her allies in Russia, and Germany, Great Britain was unable 
tp make any effectual impression on the United States, and 
<6ould not even have preserved her North American provinces, 
l^ut for the raw and undisciplined state of the American forces, 
and the want of knowledge and experience in their comman- 
ders. But, amidst all the reverses that attended the first ef- 
forts of the army of America, the native bravery of her sons 
was sufficiently apparent. The events even of the first two cam- 
paigns sufficiently proved, that nothing but habits of discipline 
and able leaders were wanting to convert this rude mass into a 
body of warriors, not unworthy to defend the soil of freedom, 
and to carry vengeance against the most powerful aggressors 
upon the rights of their country. 

While the army was thus acquiring discipline in the fields 
oT Upper Canada, and in the pathless deserts of Ohio, the re- 
publican navy had an apparently still more diflicult task to per- 
form. Having annihilated the navies of Europe, in the course 
of a twenty years war, Britain was enabled fearlessly to cover 
our coasts with her thousand ships of war. The navy of Ame- 
rica was an object of ridicule with the British nation, and it 
was confidently predicted in her legislative assembly, that in a 
few short months the " half dozen fir-built frigates, with a piece 
of striped bunting at the mast-head" would be swept from the 
ocean. Nay, even the forebodings of our friends were but lit- 
tle more favourable. What could a few frigates and sloops of 
war effect against a fleet, which had succeeded in breaking 
down every naval power in the world, and who could exclaim 
almost without an hyperbole: 

" The winds aiid seas are Britain's wide do7namy 
" ,^nd not a sail but by /iermissio7i spreads''* 



* British Mival Register. 



158 HISTOlfY OF THE WAR. 

But this arduous task was undertaken with undaunted firm- 
ness, and the result was as brilliant as unexpected. Frigate 
met with frigate, and fleet with fleet, and the flag of the con- 
querors of the world was repeatedly struck to the infant navy 
of the rude republicans. To hide the disgrace, the enemy was 
fain to claim kindred with those they had affected to call a de- 
generate and outcast race, or to resort to the more unfair and 
mean subterfuge of designating as " seventy-fours in disguise," 
the same frigates which they had had numerous opportunities 
of examining, both in our ports and their own, and which but a 
few months before they had laughed to scorn. The British 
vessels were also made to undergo a metamorphosis, but in an 
inverse ratio to that of the Americans. Their ships, brigs, 
schooners, and sloops were converted into gun-boats, in the fu- 
tile hope of tearing the wreath from the brows of the noble 
Perry, . whose modest demeanour and humane conduct was 
such as to extort the reluctant applause even of those who sub- 
mitted to his prowess. 

Instead, therefore, of being confined to our ports, or swept 
from the ocean, the little navy of America visited every sea, 
and every where unfurled her stripes and stars. Nor did the 
coasts of the mistress of the ocean escape. Vessels were even 
captured in her own narrow seas. 

Meanwhile the British navy was employed in the vain at- 
tempt of " hermetrically sealing the American ports," or in 
harrassing the coasts ot the Chesapeake by petty marauding 
excursions, whose prime object seems to have been the burn- 
ing of farm-houses and oyster-boats, or the plundering stock 
and tabacco, on this extensive and defenceless frontier. 

But by the occurrence of one of the most wonderful events 
in this most wonderful era, the war was now to assume a very 
difi'erent aspect. Our republican institutions were destined to 
undergo a fiery trial, and the hitherto problematical question to 
be resolved, whether a free government, which derived its 
chief strength from public opinion, was capable of sustaining 
itself single-handed during a conflict with a power possessed 
of apparently boundless resources, and whose armies had just 
returned from " conquering the conquerors of Europe,'' and 
dictating an ignomhiious peace in their capital. Nor were 
other unfavourable circumstances wanting to darken the cloud 
which hung over America at this eventful period. The treasu- 
ry, one of the principal sinews of war, was nearly beggared by 
the temporising policy and ruinous expedients which had been 
resorted to, and the policy of the enemy had succeeded in drain- 
ing the country of its circulating medium to such an extent? as 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 139 

to induce a general stoppage of specie payments by the banks 
in almost every section of the country. Perhaps a more inte- 
resting period of American history never occurred than this 
crisis presented. 

The main body of the American army on the Canadian fron- 
tier, remained inactive through the winter in their cantonments 
at French Mills. Preparations, however, were early made for 
the opening of the ensuing campaign; and towards the middle 
of February, after having destroyed their temporary barracks, 
and the major part of their boats? the army marched in two 
columns, the one under general Brov/n for Sackett's Harbour, 
the other towards lake Champlain, mider general Macoiiib. — 
General Wilkinson remained one day behind for the protection 
of the rear, and then followed Macomb to Plattsburg. Tht 
march of both columns was unmolested by the enemy. 

No further movements were made until the end ofMr M'rr, 
when general Wilkinson, learning that general Brow;, h .1 
marched from Sackett's Harbour against Fort Niagara deter- 
mined upon attempting a diversion in his favour. He accord- 
ingly put his army in motion on the Odelltown road, ajid enter- 
ing Canada on the 30th of March, advanced against a position 
occupied by the enemy on the river La Cole, where the British 
had fortified a large stone mill, and erected a block-house and 
other defences. 

An eighteen pounder had been ordered forward to effect the 
destruction of the mill, but it broke down, and after being re- 
paired, the only road of approach, through a deep forest, was 
reported to be impracticable to a gun of such weight. An 
opinion prevailed with the chief engineer, and several of the 
best informed officers, that an iron twelve would suffice to make 
a breach; but after a fair and tedious experiment, at a distance 
of only three hmidred yards, it was discovered that the battery 
could make no impression. 

During this cannonade, which was returned by a sloop and 
some gun-boats from Isle aux Noix, several sorties and despe- 
rate charges were made from the mill upon the American bat- 
tery; these weie repulsed with great coolness by the covering 
corps, and the whole body engaged displayed the utmost gallan- 
try and bravery, during the affair. The conduct of captain 
M'Pherson, who commanded the battery, is particularly no- 
ticed by general Wilkinson, who also states that he was admi- 
rably seconded by lieutenants Larrabee and Sheldon. M'Pher- 
son and Larrabee were both severely wounded. 

Finding all attempts to make a breach unsuccessful, general 
Wilkinson withdrew the battery, called in his detachments, and 



i40 HISTORY OF THE VvAU. 

after removing the dead and wounded, and every thing else, fell 
back, unmolested, the same evening, about three miles, t^ 
Odelltown, a small town just within the Canada lines. 

The force of the British at the position of La Cole, was re- 
ported, from a source on which'reliance might be placed, at 
2500 men. That of the Americans is unofficially stated at be- 
tween three and four thousand. A small part of this force 
however was actually engaged. The loss of the Americans 
in killed and wounded on this occasion was between 80 afid^ 
90. That of the British \ws 10 killed, 46 wounded, and 4r 
missing. 

This inauspicious opening ofthe campaign, joined to the fail- 
ure of the expedition against Montreal the preceding au- 
tumn, threw a great deal of odium on general Wilkinson, and 
he was shortly after superceded in the command by' general 
Izard.* 

Meantime general Brown after remaining for a short period 
at Sackett's Harbour, put his troops in motion towards the 
Niagara frontier. Expectations were entertained that he 
would immediately drive the enemy from his position in the 
American territory, but these expectations were disappointed^ 
During the spring months, tranquility reigned uninterrupted 
along the whole line of the Upper Canada frontier, save by a 
few partial encounters, which shall be noticed in the order in 
which they occurred. 

A small force, consisting of about 180 rangers and mounted 
infantry, under captain HoJmes, was dispatched by lieutenant- 
colonel Butler, the commander at Detroit, against Delaware, a 
British post on the river Thames. This detachment had set 
out with artillery, but the state ofthe country presenting invin- 
cible obstacles to its transportation, it was left behind. By 
these means, and by sending back the sick to Detroit, Holmes* 
little force was diminished to about 160 men. 

On the 3d of March intelligence was received, that a body 
of the enemy, nearly double his force, was descending the 
Thames, one half of whom were regulai^, and the remainder 
militia and Indians. Holmes immediatly retreated a few 
miles, and took an excellent position on the western bank of a 
creek, which ran through a deep and wide ravine. Captain 



* General IVilkinson ivas tried by a court martial held at 
Troy^in the state of J^env York, on various accusations exhibit' 
ed against him of misconduct during those tivo cam/iaigns. He 
ivas honourably acquitted of all the charges exhibited against 
him. 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 141 

Gill was left with a few rangers to cover the rear, and watch 
the motions of the enemy; but hardly had the main body en- 
camped, before they were joined by ihe rangers, who had been 
driven in, after exchanging a few shots with the British ad- 
vanced corps, in a vain attempt to reconnoitre their force. 

During the night of the 3d, the British encamped upon the 
eastern heights, and next morning succeeded in drawing cap- 
tain Holmes from his position by a well contrived stratagem, 
which, had it been skilfully followed up, could hardly have fail- 
ed to eventuate in the destruction of the American detachment. 
Fortunately, however, this was not the case. At sun-rise the 
enemy exhibited a small and scattered force on the opposite 
heights, who retreated, after ineffectually firing at the Ameri- 
can camp, and the reconnoitering party reported that the retreat 
was conducted with precipitation, the baggage left scattered 
on the road, and, that judging from their trail and fires, they 
could not exceed seventy men. Mortified at the idea of having 
retrogaded from this diminutive force. Holmes instantly com- 
menced the pursuit, and resumed the idea of attacking the ene- 
my's post. He had not, however, proceeded beyond five miles, 
when his advance discovered the enemy, in CDnsiderable force, 
arranging themselves for battle. 

The stratagem of the enemy being now apparent, captaiu 
Holmes instantly took advantage of the blunder, which they 
had committed, in not throwing themselves in his rear, and 
thus placing his detachment between a fortified position and a 
superior force; and happily he soon regained his former po;si- 
tion. Here, placing his horses and baggage in the- centre, he 
formed his troops a- foot in a hollow square, to prevent the ne- 
cessity of evolution, which such raw troops were incompetent 
to perform in action. Holmes thus calmly waited the approach 
of the enemy, in defiance of the murmurs of his men, who 
were unanimously in favour of a retreat, thinking it madness 
to engage with so superior a force. 

The attack was commenced simultaneously on every front, 
the militia and Indians attacking from the north, west and south., 
with savage yells and bugles sounding, and the regulars charg7 
ing up the heights from the ravine on the east. The latter 
bravely approached to withing 20 paces of the American line, 
against the most destructive fire. But the front section being 
shot to pieces, those who followed much thinned and wounded, 
and many of the officers cut down, they were forced to abandon 
the charge, and take cover in the woods in diffused order, with- 
in from 15 to 30 paces of their antago-nists. The charge of the 
British regulars thus repulsed, they had recourse to their am- 

N 



142 IlIbTOllY OF THE WAR. 

nuinition, and the firing increased on both sides with great vi- 
vacity. The American regulars, being uncovered, were or- 
dered to kneel, that the brow of the heights might assist in 
screening them from the view of the enemy. But the ene- 
my's cover also proved insufficient, a common sized tree being 
unable to protect even one man from the extended line of 
Americans; much less the squads that often stood and breathed 
their last together. 

On the other three sides the firing was sustained with much 
coolness, and with considerable loss to the foe. The troops on 
those sides being protected by logs hastily thrown together, 
and the enemy not charging, both the rifle and musket were 
aimed at leisure, with that deadly certainty which distinguish- 
es the American backwoodsman. Unable to sustain so un- 
equal a contest, therefore, and favoured by the shades of twi- 
light, the British commenced a general retreat, after an hour's 
close and gallant conflict. 

Captain Holmes declined a pursuit, as the enemy were still 
superior both in numbers and discipline, and as the night would 
have insured success to an ambuscade. Besides, as the creek 
would have to be passed, and the heights ascended, the at- 
tempt to pursue would have given the enemy the same advan- 
tage which produced their defeat, as it could be passed on 
horseback at no other point; and the troops being fatigued and 
frOst bitten, and their shoes cut to pieces by the frozen ground, 
it was not possible to pursue on foot. Captain Holmes ac- 
cordingly returned to Detroit. 

The American loss in killed and woundeJ, on this occasion, 
amounted only to a non-commissioned officer and six privates; 
the British official account states their loss at 14 killed, 51 
wounded, 1 missing, and 1 officer wounded and taken. Two 
of the officers were killed, and the same number wounded. — 
This statement does not include the loss of the Indians. The 
%vhole American force in action consisted of 150 rank and file, 
of whom, including the rangers, 70 were militia. The British 
regulars alone were from 150 to 180 strong, and the militia 
and Indians fought upon three sides of the square. 

On lake Ontario, the British still preserved the superiority 
which the addition to their squadron had conferred on them 
the preceding autumn. Measures, however, were in rapid pro- 
gress at Sackctrs Harbour, towards placing the hostile fleets 
on a more equal footnig. A handsome ship, rated 44 guns, and 
carrying 58, was launched on the first of May. While this 
vessel was on the stocks, an unsuccessful attempt was made 
>.v the enemy to blow her up. Tlie boats employed in this en- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 143 

terprize were discovered by the American guard boats in the 
bay and were forced to fly, after throwing their kegs of pow- 
der overboard. 

Commodore Yeo pursued a similar policy to that which gov- 
erned him the preceding summer. As long as he was mani- 
festly superior in force to Chauncey, his fleet ruled the lake; 
but nothing could induce him to hazard an engagement, when 
the force of his rival was nearly equal to his. During that 
part of the summer, when this was the case, he lay snug in 
Kingston harbour. This is by no means said in disparagement 
of the British commander; for every circumstance shows t'lr.t 
this was tke wisest policy; and perhaps the only one v/hich 
could have saved Upper Canada. 

On the 5th of IVIay the British naval force under Sir James 
Lucas Yeo, consisting of four large ships, three brigs, and a 
number of gun and other boats, appeared off' the village of Os- 
wego, having on board seven companies of infantry, a detach- 
n-^ent of artillery, and a battalion of marines, under the com- 
mand of lieutenant-general Drummond. This post being but 
occasionally, and not recently occupied by regular troops, was 
in a bad state of defence. It was garrisoned by about 300 re- 
gulars, under lieutenant-colonel Mitchell, who had only arriv- 
ed a few days before. Lieutenant Woolsey of the navy, witti 
a small body of seamen, was also at the village, and as soon as 
the fleet appeared, the neighbouring militia were called in. — 
About 1 o'clock the fleet approached, and 15 boats, large and 
crowded with troops, at a given signal moved slowly to the 
shore. These were preceded by gun-boats, sent to rake the 
woods and cover the landing, while the larger vessels opened a 
fire upon the fort. As soon as the debarking bouts got within 
range of the shot from the shore batteries, a very successful 
fire opened upon them, which twice compelled them to retire. 
They at length returned to the ships, and the whole stood off" 
from the shore for better anchorage. Several boats which had 
been deserted by the enemy were taken up in the evening, one 
of which was 60 feet long, carried thirly-six oars and three 
sails, and could accommodate 150 men. She had received a 
ball through her bow, and was nearly filled with water. 

At day-break next morning the fleet appeared bearing up 
under easy sail, and about noon the frigates took a position di- 
'rectly against the fort and batteries, and opened a heavy fire, 
which was kept up for three hours, while the brigs, schooners, 
and gun-boats covered by their fire the debarkation of the 
troops. The Americans were now forced to retreat into the 
rear of the fort, where two companies met the advancing co- 



144 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

jiimns of the enemy, while the others engaged their flank. — 
Lieutenant Pearce of the navy, and some seamen, joiaed in the 
attack, and fought with their characteristic bravery. After a 
short action, Mitchell again commenced a retreat, which 
was effected in good order, destroying the bridges in his rear. 
Indeed a retreat had become necessary for the protection of the 
stores at the fails, 13 miles in the rear of the fort, which were 
supposed to form the principal object of the expedition. 

Early in the morning of the 7th, the British evacuated the 
place, and retired to their shipping, after destroying the fort 
and those public stores which they could not carry away. — 
These stores were not important, the most valuable having 
been deposited at the falls. 

The American official account states their loss at 6 killed, 
.38 wounded, and 25 missing; that of the British states theirs 
at 19 killed and 75 wounded. Among them were several offi- 
cers. Mitchell states the force landed at 15 50 men, while the 
Americans engaged did not exceed 300, being 4 companies 
u( the 3d artillery under captains Boyle, Romayne, M*Intyre, 
and Pierce, a company of light artillery under captain Melvin, 
and a small detachment of sailors under lieutenant Pearce of 
■ he navy. 

A short time after this event, the British fleet appeared near 

•he mouth of the Gennessee river, where about 160 volunteers 

were stationed, with one piece of artillery. Captain Stone, the 

omnianding officer, dispatched expresses for assistance to 

ifcreiit quarters. The following day the commodore's new 
'^hip came to anchor off the mouth of the river, and sent an 
officer on shore with a flag, demanding the surrender of the 
place, and promising to respect private property in case no re- 
sistance should be made, and all public property faithfully dis- 
closed and given up. General Porter arrived while the flag- 
was on shore, and returned for answer that the place would 
be defended to the last extremity. On the return of the flag, 
two guH'boats, with from 200 to 300 men on board, advanced 
to tb.e river, which is about a mile from the town and battery, 
and commenced a heavy cannonade, directed partly to the 
own, and partly to bodies of troops who had been placed in 
ravines near the mouth of the river, to intercept the retreat of 
Tuc gun-boats, in case they should enter. 

At the expiration of an hour and a half, during which time 
they threw a great number of rockets, shells, and shot of dif- 
ferent descriptions, from grape to 68lbs., a second flag was 
went from the commodore's ship, requiring, in the name of the 
'onnnander of the forces, an immediate surrender, and threat- 



HISTORY OF THE WA.R. M5 

ening that if the demand was not connplied with, he would 

land 1200 regular troops and 400 Indians; that if he should 

lose a single man, he would raze the town and destroy every 

vestige of property; and that it was iiis request that the women 

and children might be immediately removed, as he could not 

be accountable for the conduct of the Indians. He was told 

that the answer to his demand had been already explicitly 

given; that they were prepared to meet him^ the women and 

"j-children having been disposed of; and that if another flag 

r-^-should be sent on the subject of a surreuder, it would not be 

^^rotected. The flag returned with the gun-boats to the fleer, 

^i(«he whole of which came to anchor about a mile from the shore, 

^where they lay until 8 o'clock on Saturday morning, and then 

.'left the place. 

On the evening of the following day, the British squadron 
was discovered making towards Pullneyville, another small 
village on the magin of lake Ontario, and information was 
sent to general Swift, who repaired thither in the course of the 
night, with 130 volunteers and militia. Next morning a flag 
.was sent on shore, demanding a peaceable surrender of all 
ii>public property, and threatening an immediate destruction of 
the village in case of refusal. General Swift returned for 
answer, that he should oppose any attempt to land, by all the 
means in his pov/er. Soon after the return, of the flag, how- 
ever, general Swift was induced, by the pressing solicitations 
and entreaties of the inhal:|itans of the town, to permit one of 
its citizens to go to the en^my v/ith a flag, and ofier the surren- 
der of the property contained in a store-house at the water's 
edge, consisting ofa"bovU 100 barrels of flour considerably 
damaged, on condition that the commanding officer would 
stipulate not to take any other, nor molest the inhabitants. 
But before its return, the enemy sent their gun-boats with se- 
veral hundred men on shore, who took possession of the flour 
in the store, and were proceeding to further depredations 
when general Swift commenced a fire upon them from an ad- 
jacent wood, which wounded several, and became so harrassing 
as to induce them to re-embark. They then commenced a 
cannonade from the fleet upon the town, which was continued 
for sometime, but with no other itijury than a few shot holes 
through the houses. 

A short time after these affairs took place, two British gun- 
boats and five barges, some of which contained howitzer^:, 
manned by about 200 sailors and marines, under the command 
of captain Popham of the royal navy; were captured by a de- 
tachment of 120 riflemen and a few Oneida warrior^:> in-:!: 



146 HISTORY OF THE WAR- 

the command of major Appling, of the first United States* rifle 
i'cgiment. 

Major Appling^ had been detached to protect the cannon and 
naval stores at Oswego, destined for commodore Chauncey's 
fleet. They were embarked on board a flotilla of boats, in 
charge of captain Woolsey of the navy, and had arrived safely 
in Sandy creek. Here they were pursued by the enemy, who 
was gallantly met by the riflemen, and after an action of a few 
minutes, beaten and taken, without the loss of a man; an In- 
dian and one rifleman only being wounded. 

The riflemen were most judiciously posted along the bank, 
a short distance below captain Woolsey's boats, where the 
creek is narrow and shoal. Most of the men having with- 
drawn from the boats, the enemy gave three cheers at the 
prospect of the rich prize before him. His joy, however, was 
of short duration, for at this moment the riflemen poured forth 
their deadly fire, which in about ten minutes terminated in his 
total defeat, leaving an officer and 1 3 men killed; two officers 
and 28 men wounded (the officers and many of the men dan- 
gerously); the residue, consisting of 10 officers and 133 men, 
taken prisoners. 

Major Appling speaks in the highest terms of the courage 
md good conduct of his officers and men. Captain Harris 
with his troop of dragoons, and captain Melvin with his two 
neld-pieces, had made a rapid march, and would in a few mi- 
*iutes have been ready to participate in the action, had the ene- 
my been able to make a stand. 

The captured officers and men spoke in the highest terms 
of commendation of major Appling and his rifle corps, to 
whose humane and spirited conduct they are probably indebt- 
ed for the preservation of their lives. The Indians were the 
first to reach the enemy after they submitted, and had com- 
jnenced executing the savage rule of warfare, sanctioned by 
Anglo-Indian example at the river R?isin, Lewistown, Tusca- 
rora, &c. of murdering their prisoners, when the major and 
bis men happily arrived, and succeeded, by a prompt and de- 
termined course, though not without violence, in terminating 
the tragic scene.* 



* An Ivdian chief is said to have given vent to his feelings 
on this occa&io7i in language similar to the folloiving: — " When 
British come to Buffaloe^ they kill ivhite man^ they kill Indian^ 
they kill ivoman, they burn all houses — when British come here^ 
ijQU no let Indian kill him — yon give him cat — this no goodJ* 



HISTORY OF THE AVAK. ) 4,7 

No further events took place on this lake during the war 
worth recording, excepting the capture and destruction of a 
gun-boat at the head of the St. Lawrence, and the burning of 
a vessel of war on the stocks at Presque Isle. Both these ex- 
ploits were performed by lieutenant Gregory. 

Nothing of importance took place on lake Erie. The only 
hostile event that occured was the destruction of some mills 
employed in manufacturing flour for the British army, at Long 
Point, by colonel Campbell, with a detachment of 500 or 600 
men from Erie. The mills and some houses occupied as stores 
Avere burned. About 50 dragoons stationed there as a guard 
made their escape, when the party returned without losing a 
man. This event, which was certainly not strictly justified by 
the laws of v/ar, though sanctioned by the practice of the ene- 
my, was an unauthourised act on the part of colonel Campbell. 
A court of enquiry was held on his conduct, whose opinion 
was unanimously pronounced as follows: 

" That, considering the important supplies of bread-stuffs; 
which from the evidence it appears the enemy's forces derived 
from the flour-manufacturing mills at and near to Dover, colo- 
nel Campbell was warranted in destroying those mills, accord- 
ing to the laws and usages of war, and for a like reason, the 
court think him justified in burning the distilleries under the 
said laws and usages. The saw-mills and carding machine, 
from their contiguity to the other mills, were, as the court 
conceives, necessarily involved in one and the same burning. 

" In respect to the burning of the dwelling and other houses 
in the village ot Dover, the court are fully of opinion that colo- 
nel Campbell has erred; that he can derive no justification 
from the fact, that the owners of these houses were actively 
opposed to the American interests in the present war, or from 
the other facts, that some of them were at the conflagration of 
Buffaloe. In their partizan services it does not appear to the 
court, that the inhabitants of Dover have done more than their 
proper allegiance required of them; and the destruction af 
Buffaloe, by a lieutenant-general of the enemy's regular forces 
was emphatically the wrong of the British government itself, 
rendered such by its subsequent adoption of the measure, and 
ought not to be ascribed to a few Canadians who were present 
at the time. 

" Acts of retaliation, on the part of a nation proud of its 
rights, and conscious of the power of enforcing them, should, 
in the opinion of the court, be reluctantly resorted to, and on- 
ly by instructions from the highest in authority. That no such 
instructions were given in the case under cor.sideration, is not 



i4S HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

merely inferred from the absence of evidence to that effect, 
but is candidly admitted by colonel Campbell in his official re- 
port (which is in evidence), wherein he expressly states — 
' This expedition was undertaken by me without orders, and 
upon my own responsibility.* 

" The court, in delivering the above opinion unfavourable to 
colonel Campbell, are fully aware of the strong incentives to 
a just indignation which must have been present to his mind 
at the time of this visit to Dover — the massacres of the Raisin 
and the Miami were not yet forgotten and the more recent 
devastation of the entire Niagara frontier, accompanied by 
many acts of savage barbarity, was fresh in remembrance. 
That these recollections should have aroused his feelings and 
have swayed his judgment, does not excite wonder but regret, 
and there is still left for admiration, his kind and amiable treat- 
ment of the women and children of Dover, abandoned by their 
natural protectors.** 

Meanwhile general Brown was occupied in collecting and 
disciplining his forces, and preparing for the invasion of Canada. 
On the evening of the 2d of July, general orders were issued 
for the embarkation of the troops by day-light next morning, 
when the army, consisting of two brigades, and a body of New- 
York and Pennsylvania volunteers and Indians, under general 
P. B. Porter, were landed on the opposite shore, without op- 
position. The first brigade, under general Scott, and the ar- 
tillery corps under major Hindman, landed nearly a mile be- 
low Fort Erie, while general Ripley, with the second brigade, 
made the shore about the same distance above. The fort was 
soon completely invested, and a battery of long eighteens being 
planted in a position which commanded it, the garrison, con- 
sisting of 137 men, including officers, surrendered prisoners 
of war. Several pieces of ordnance were found in the fort, 
and some military stores. 

Having placed a small garrison in Fort Erie to secure his 
rear, Brown miOved forward the following day to Chippewa 
plains, where he encamped for the night, after some skirmish- 
ing with the enemy. 

The American pickets were several times attacked on the 
morning of the 5th, by small parties of the British. About 
four in the afternoon, general Porter, with the volunteers and 
Indians, was ordered to advance from the rear of the Ameri- 
can camp, and take a circuit through the woods to the left, in 
hopes of getting beyond the skirmishing parties of the enemy, 
and cutting off their retreat, and to favour this purpose the ad- 
vance were ordered to fall back gradually under the enemy's 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 149 

iiie. In about half an hour, however, Porter's advance met 
the light parties in the woods, and drove them until the whole 
column of the British was met in order of battle. From the 
clouds of dust and the heavy firing, general Brown concluded 
that the entire force of the British was in motion, and instant- 
ly gave orders for general Scott to advance with his brigade 
and Towson's artillery, and meet them on the plain in front of 
the American camp. In a few minutes Scott was in close ac- 
tion with a superior force of British regulars. 

By this time Porter's volunteers having given way and fled, 
the left flank of Scott's brigade became much exposed. Gen- 
eral Ripley was accordingly ordered to advance with a part 
of the reserve, and skirting the woods on the left, in order to 
keep out of view, endeavour to gain the rear of the enemy's 
right flank. The greatest exertions were made to gain this 
position but in vain. Such was the gallantry and impetuosity of 
the brigade of general Scott, that its advance upon the enemy 
was not to be checked. Major Jessup, commanding the bat- 
talion on the left flank, finding himself pressed both in front 
and in flank, and his men falling fast around him, ordered his 
battalion to " support arms and advance." Amidst the most 
■ destructive fire this order was promptly obeyed, and he soon 
gained a more secure position, and returned upon the enemy 
so galling a discharge, as caused them to retire. 

The whole line of the British now fell back, and the Ameri- 
can troops closely pressed upon them. As soon as the former 
gained the sloping ground descending towards Chippewa, 
tiiey broke and ran to their works, distant about a quarter of 
a mile, and the batteries opening on the American line, consi- 
derably checked the pursuit. Brown now ordered the ordnance 
to be brought up, with the intention of forcing the works. But 
on their being examined, he was induced, by the lateness of 
the hour, and the advice of his officers, to order the forces to 
retire to camp. 

The American official account states their loss at 60 killed, 
248 wounded, and 19 missing. The British officially state tiieirs 
at 135 killed, 320 wounded, and 46 missing. 

Dispirited as was the public mind at this period, the intelli- 
gence of this brilliant and unexpected opening of the campaign 
on the Niagara could not fail of being most joyfully received. 
The total overthrow of the French power had a few months be- 
fore liberated the whole of the British forces in Europe. A 
considerable portion of lord Wellington's army, flushed with 
their late successes in Spain, had arrived in Canada, and were 
actual'y opposed to Brown at Chippewa, while all our maritime 



) 

150 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

towns were threatened by Britain's victorioas armies, whose 
arrival was momentarily expected on the coast. When the in- 
telligence of the stupendous events in Europe was first receiv- 
ed, many consoled themselves with the idea, that the magnan- 
imity of Great Britain would freely grant in her prosperity, 
what they had insisted we never could force from her in her 
adversity. Sincerely taking for realities the pretexts on which 
our neutral rights had been infringed, they thought the ques- 
tion of impressment, now the almost single subject of dispute, 
could easily be amicably arranged, when the affairs of the world 
were so altered as to render it nearly impossible that Great 
Britain could ever again be reduced to the necessity of " fight- 
ing for her existence; or, at all events, as the peace in Europe 
had effectually removed the cause, and as the American gov- 
ernment declined insisting on a formal relinquishment of the 
practice, no difficulty would be thrown in the way of a general 
and complete pacification of the world. 

This illusion was soon dissipated. By the next advices from 
Europe it was learned, that the cry for vengeance upon the 
Americans was almost unanimous throughout the British em- 
pire. The president was threatened with the fate of Bonaparte, 
and it was said that the American peace ought to be dictated 
in Washington, as that of Europe had been at Paris. Even 
in parliament* the idea was held out that peace ought not to 
be thought of till America had received a signal punishment, 
for having dared to declare war upon them while their forces 
were engaged in " delivering Europe'* from its oppressor.! 
The commencement of the negociations for peace, which had 
been proposed by the British court, was suspended, and stren- 
uous efforts were made to send to America as commanding a 
force as possible. 

Under these circumstances, a victory gained by the raw 



* Sir Joseph Yorke, one 0/ the lords of the ad7niralty^ said 
in parliament^'' ive have Mr. Aladiscn to depose before ive ca?L 
lay down our arms.'* 

t At a dinner given to lord Hill, loho ivas on the eve of sail- 
ing at the head of an expedition against J^e^v- Orleans, he stated 
the period tuhen he should embark for America, and added, that 
" he had no doubt, with the means already there, together ivith 
those on the way, and what were promised by his prince, he 
should humble the Yankees, and bring the contest to a speedy 
and successful termination.'* Happy for his lordship he was 
soon after sufKTseded in the command by general Packenham. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 151 

troops of America over the veterans of Wellington, superior 
in numbers to the victors,* upon an open plain, and upon a 
spot chosen by the British general, had a most beneficial ten- 
dency, by dispelling the dread which the prowess of the Brit- 
ish troops in Spain could not have failed to have produced in 
the minds of their opponents. This battle was to the army, 
what the victory of captain Hull had been to the navy; and 
the confidence which it thus inspired was surely most justly 
founded, for every man felt that the victory had been gained 
by superior skill and discipline; it was not the fruit of any ac- 
cidental mistake or confusion in the army of the enemy, or of 
one of those movements of temporary panic on one side, or 
excitement on the other, which sometimes give a victory to 
irregular courage over veteran and disciplined valour. 

After so signal a defeat, the British could not be induced to 
hazard another engagement. They abandoned their works at 
Chippewa, and burning their barracks, retired to fort Niagara 
and fort George, closely followed by Brown. Here he ex- 
pected to receive some heavy guns and reinforcements from 
Sackett's Harbour; but on the 23d of July he received a letter 
by express from general Gaines, advising him that that port 
was blockaded by a superior British force, and that commo- 
dore Chauncey was confined to his bed with a fever. Thus dis- 
appointed in his expectations of being enabled to reduce the 
forts at the mouth of the Niagara, Brown determined to dis- 
encumber the army of baggage, and march directly for Bur- 
lington Heights. To mask this intention, and to draw from 
Schlosser a small supply of provisions, he fell back upon Chip- 
pewa. 

About noon on the 25th, general Brown was advised by an 
express from Lewistown, that the British were following him, 
and were in considerable force in Queenstown and on its 
heights; that four of the enemy's fleet had arrived with rein- 
forcements at Niagara during the preceding night, and that 
a number of boats were in view, moving up the river. Short- 
ly after, intelligence was brought that the enemy were land- 
ing at Lewistown, and that the baggage and stores at Schlos- 
ser, and on their way thither, were in danger of immediate 

* The British official accounts state the American forces to 
have been sufierior in number. This afifiarent contradiction 
?nay be reconciled by observing", that a single brigade of the 
American troo/is achieved the victory; the volunteers having 
fled before the action commenced^ while the brigade of general 
Rifiley had arrived on the ground, ivhen the British took she:- 
ter behind their works. 



152 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

capture. In order to recall the British from this objeci 
Brown determined to put the army in motion towards Queens- 
town, and accordingly general Scott was directed to advance 
with the first brigade, Towson*s artillery, and all the dragoons 
and mounted men, with orders to report if the enemy appear- 
ed, and if necessary to call for assistance. On his arrival near 
the falls, Scott learned that the enemy was in force directly 
in his front, a narrow piece of woods alone intercepting his 
view of them. He immediately advanced upon them, after 
dispatching a messenger to general Brown with this intelli- 
gence. 

The report of the cannon and small arms reached general 
Brown before the messenger, and orders were instantly issued 
for general Riply to march to the support of general Scott, 
with the second brigade and all the artillery, and Brown him- 
self repaired with all speed to the scene of action, whence he 
sent orders for general Porter to advance with his volunteers. 
On reaching the field of battle, general Brown found that 
Scott had passed the wood, and engaged the enemy on the 
Queenstown road and on the ground to the left of it, with the 
9th, 11th, and 22d regiments, and Towson's artillery, the 
25th having been thrown on the right to be governed by cir- 
cumstances. The contest was close and desperate, and the 
American troops, far inferior in numbers, suffered severely. 

Meanwhile major Jessup, who commanded the 25th regi- 
ment, taking advantage of a fault committed by the British 
commander, by leaving a road unguarded on his left, threw 
himself promptly into the rear of the enemy, where he was en- 
abled to operate with the happiest effect. The slaughter 
was dreadful; the enemy's line fell down the road at the third 
or fourth fire. The capture of general Riall, with a large es- 
cort of officers of rank, was part of the trophies of Jessup's 
intrepidity and skill; and, but for the impression of an un- 
founded report, under which he unfortunately remained for a 
few minutes, lieutenant general Drummond, the commander 
of the British forces, would inevitably have fallen into his 
hands, an event which would, in ail probability, have comple- 
ted the disaster of the British army. Drummond was con>- 
pletely in Jessup's power; but being confidently informed that 
the first brigade was cut in pieces, and finding himself with 
less than 200 men, and without any prospect of support, in 
the midst of an overwhelming hostile force, he thought of no- 
thing for the moment but to make good his retreat, and save 
his command. Of this temporary suspense of the advance 
of the American column, general Drummond availed himself 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 153 

to make his escape. Among the officers captured, was one 
of general Drummond's aids-de-camp, who had been dispatch- 
ed from the front line to order up the reserve, with a view to 
fall on Scott with the concentrated force of the whole army, 
and overwhelm him at a single effort. Nor would it have 
been possible to prevent this catastrophe, had the reserve ar- 
rived in time; the force with which general Scott would then 
have been obliged to contend being nearly quadruple that of 
his own. By the fortunate capture, however, of the British 
aid-de-camp, before the completion of the service on which he 
had been ordered, the enemy's reserve was not brought into 
action until the arrival of general Ripley's brigade, which 
prevented the disaster which must otherwise have ensued.* 

Though the second brigade pressed forward with the^great- 
est ardour, the battle had raged for an hour before it could ar- 
rive on the field, by which time it was nearly dark. The en- 
emy fell back on its approach. In order to disengage the ex- 
hausted troops of the first brigade, the fresh troops were or- 
dered to pass Scott's line, and display in front, a movenicnt 
which was immediately executed by Ripley. Meanwhile the 
enemy, being reconnoitered, was found to have taken a new 
position, and occupied a height with his artillery, supported by 
aline of infantry, which gave )iim great advaiitages, it being 



* " ^ trait in his conduct hi[^hlij honourable to colonel JesHu;! 
is, that his hiiinanity as a man triumjilLed over his techniccl 
.duty as an officer. Such ivas,for a ti?yie, his situation in (I: 
field, that every prisoner he took, by i/n/iedi?ig his operati-)v-- 
against the enemy, not only injured the cause in luhich he -tjo 
engaged, but endangered the safety of his ovni corfis. Ac- 
cording to the canons ofivar, therefore, his duty, as we believe, 
was, to make no prisoners, but to put to death every marl vj ho 
might oppose him in arms. Regardless, hoi-jcver^ of these san- 
guinary statutes, and listening only to the voice of mercy, h -■ 
gave quarter to all that surrendered to him, although con&cioi/.- 
they would diminish his effective force, and that he must neccsf;a- 
rily suffer them again to escape. This conduct vjasnoticedbv nome 
of the British officers, and commended as highly honourable to 
(he young American. Had Jessup been less humane as a ?nan, and 
more techiiically rigid as an officer, he might have acted, as the 
aid-dc-camp of gerieral Driunmond acknowledged, with morr' 
deadly effect against the enemy. But he knew the road to glar 
better. The fairest wreath in the heroes chaplet is that whic . 
-V e?itwined by the hand of mercy. '^ — Port Folio. 

O 



'•^^ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the key to tlie whole position. To secure the victory, it was 
necessary to carry lus t\rtillery and seize the height. 'For this 
purpose the second brigade advanced upon the Queenstown 
load, and the first regiment of infantry, which had arrived 
that day, and was attached to neither of the brigades, was 
formed in a line facing the enemy's on the height, with a view 
of drawing his fire and attracting his attention, as the second 
brigade advanced oil his left flank to carry his artillery. 

As soon as the first regiment approached its position,'colo- 
nel Miller was ordered to advance with the 21st regiment, and 
carry the artillery on the height by the bayonet. The first 
regiment gave way under the fire of the enemy; but Miller, 
undaunted by this occurrence, advanced steadily and gallantly 
io his object, and carried the heights and cannon in a masterly 
style. General Ripley followed on the right with the 23d re- 
giment. It had some desperate fighting, which caused it to 
iaultcr, hut it was promptly rallied, and brought up. 

The enemy being now driven from their commanding 
i^rour-d, the whole brigade, with the volunteers and artillery, 
and the first regiment, which had been rallied, were formed in 
line with the captured cannon, nine pieces, in the rear. Here 
ihey w ere soon joined by major Jessup, with the 25th, the re- 
giment that had acted with such effect in the rear of the ene- 
my's left. In this situation the American troops withstood 
three distinct desperate attacks of the enemy, who had rallied 
his broken corps, and received reinforcements. In each of 
them he was repulsed with great slaughter, so near being his 
approach, that the buttons of the men were distinctly seen 
through the darkness by the flash of the muskets, and many 
prisoners were taken at the point of the bayonet, principally 
by Porter's volunteers. During the second attack general 
Scott was ordered up, who had been held in reserve with three 
of his battalions, from the moment of Ripley's arrival on the 
rieid. During the third eflbrt of the enemy, the direction of 
Scott's column would have enabled him, in a few minutes, to 
i.ave formed line in the rear of the enemy's right, and thus 
have brought him between two fires. But a flank fire from a 
v-oncealed partof the enemy fallini^ upon the centre of Scott's 
command, completely frustrated this intention. His column 
\\as severed in two; one part passing- lothe rear, the other by 
ihc right flank of platoons towards Ripley's main line. 

This was the last efl'ort of the British to regain their position 
and artillery, the American troops being left in quiet posses- 
sion of the field. It was now nearly midnight, and geneials 
Brown and Scott being both severely wounded, and all the 



UlSTOUy OF THE WAR. Ipj 

Tl'oops much exhausted, the command was given to general 
Ripley, and he was instructed to return to camp, bringing with 
him the wounded and the artillery. The pieces, however, 
were found in so dismantled a state, and such had been the 
slaughter of the horses, that to remove them at that late hour 
was found to be impracticable. 

On the return of the troops to camp, general Brown sent 
for general Ripley, and after giving him his reasons for tlie 
measure, ordered him to put the troops into the best possible 
condition; to give to them the necessary rcfreshmeni; to take 
with him the piquets and camp guards, and every other de- 
scription of force; to put himself on the field of battle as the 
day dawned, and there meet and beat the enemy if he again 
appeared. 

General Ripley has been much blamed for the non-execu- 
tion of this order, by which the captured cannon again fell into 
the hands of the British. General Brown, in his official report, 
says, " To this order he [Ripley] made no objection, and I re- 
lied upon its execution. It was not executed.'* On the part 
of general Ripley it is stated, that his orders were, in case the 
enemy appeared in force, " to be governed entirely by circum- 
stances." His orders, therefore, were executed. At day- 
break the army was arranged, and the march commenced, 
when circumstances of the most positive nature were made ap- 
parent, such as must have been in view in the discretionary 
part of th6 order, and in the full effect of which general Riplc y 
commenced and effected the retreat which afterwards led him 
to Fort Erie. The troops, reduced to less than 1600 men, were 
marched on the 26th by general Ripley towards the field of 
battle. Motion was commenced at day-break, but difficulties 
incidental to the late losses prevented the advance before some 
time had been spent in re-organization and arrangement. The 
line of march being assumed, and the Chippewacrossed, gen- 
eral Ripley sent forward lieutenants Tappan of the 23d, and 
Riddle of the 15th, with their respective commands, to recon- 
noitre the enemy's position, strength, and movements. On 
examination, he was found in advance of his former position, 
pn an eminence, strongly reinforced; as had been asserted by 
prisoners taken the preceding evening; his flanks, resting on 
a wood on one side, and on the river on the other, defied being 
turned or driven in; his artillery was planted so as to sweep 
the road; besides these advantages, he extended a line nearly 
double in length to that which could be displayed by our troops. 
To attack with two-thirds the force of the preceding evening 
an enemy thus increased, was an act of madnes'i that the first 



J 56 HISTORY OF THE WAU. 

thought rejected. The army was kept in the field and in mo- 
tion iong enough to be assured of the strength and position^f 
the enemy; that information being confirmed, there remained 
but one course to prevent that enemy from impeding a retreat, 
which, had he been vigilant, he would previously have pre- 
vented. The army, therefore, immicdiately retrograded, and 
the retreat received the sanction of general Brown, previous 
to his crossing the Niagara.* 

The American official account states their loss in this battle 
at 171 killed, 572 wounded, and ll7 missing; the return of 
British prisoneis presents an aggregate of 179, including ma- 
jor-general Riall, and a number of other officers. — The British, 
state their loss to be 84 killed, 559 wounded, 193 missing; 
tKeir loss in prisoners they stated only at 41. Major-general 
Brown and brigadier-general Scott were among the wounded 
of the Americans, and lieutenant-general Drummond and ma- 
jor-general Riall among those of the British. 

In consequence of the wounds of generals Brown and Scott, 
the command devolved on general Ripley, who pursued his 
retreat across the Chippewa, destroying the bridges in his rear, 
and throwing every possible impediment in the way of the ene- 
my; in order to obstruct his advance. On the. 27th of July, 
the army reached Fort Erie. Here it was determined to make 
a stand, and accordingly the lines of defence and fortification 
were immediately marked out, and by the unremitted exertions 
of the army, were completed on the Sd of August, the very day 
of tlie arrival of the enemy before them. 

Early in the morning of the Sd an attempt was made to 
surprise Buffaloe, with the intention, it is supposed, of re-cap- 
t tiling general Riall, and other British prisoners there, and de- 
htrcying the public stores. About two in the morning, nine 
boat-loads of troops were landed on the American side, half a 
mile below Conjocta creek, on the upper bank of which, sus- 
pecting their intention, major Morgan had taken a position 
with a battalion of the first rifle regiment, consisting of 240 
men. Here, during the preceding night, he had thrown up a 
battery of a few logs, and torn away the bridge. About four 
o'clock the British commenced the attack, sending a party be- 
fore to repair the bridge, under cover of their fire. So heavy 
and deadly, however, was the fire opened by the riflemen, that 
they were compelled to retire. They then formed in the skirt 
of the wood, and kept up the fight ai long shot, continually re- 



Port Folio. JSItmoir of major-general Ripleij, 



tn^TTTRf OF T^1^T U'AR. 



infoi'cing from the Canada shore, unlil tl'.ey had 23 boat-loads, 
when they attempted to outflank, by sending a hirge body up 
the creek to ford it. But a detachment of about 60 men beinj^ 
sent to dispute the passage, they were repulsed with consider- 
able loss. The object now appearing unattainable, the enemy 
commenced their retreat, having previously thrown some 
troops on Squaw Island, whicli enfiladed the creek, thus pre- 
venting their retreat from being l.arrassed. Their superior 
numbers enabled them to take their wounded and most of their 
killed off the field; though some of the latter were afterwaids 
found, A number of muskets and accoutrements were also 
collected, and some clothing that appeared to have been torn 
for the purpose of binding their wounds. Six British prisoners 
were taken, who stated their force to have consisted of from 
12 to 1500 men. Although the action coiuinued for two hours 
and a half, the loss of the Americans was but trilling— two 
killed and eight wounded. The loss of the British was neve? 
ascertained, but it must have been quUe disproportioned to 
that of the Americans. 

On the arrival of the British before Fort Eric, they per- 
ceived that the opportunity was lost of carrying the American 
works by a coup-de-main. Driving in the pickets, therefore, 
they made a regular investment of the place. The following 
day general Gaines arrived from Sackett's Harbour, and being 
senior in rank assumed the command. On the 6th, the rifle 
corps was sent to endeavour to draw out the enemy, in order 
to try his strength. Their order's, were to pass through the 
intervening woods, to amuse the British light troops until their 
strong columns should get iii motion, when they should retire 
slowly to the plain, where a strong line was posted in readiness 
to receive the enemy. The riflemen accordingly met and 
drove the light troops into their lines, but although they kept 
the wood near two hours, they were not able to draw any part 
of the enemy's force after them. The British left eleven dead 
and three prisoners in the hands of the riflemen; but their los» 
was supposed to be much more considerable. The loss of the 
riflemen were five killed and three or four wounded. 

The main camp of the British was planted about two miles 
distant. In front of it they threw up a line of partial circum- 
vallation, extending around the American fortifications. This 
consisted of two lines of entrenchment, supported by block- 
houses; in front of these, at favourable points, batteries were 
erected, one of which enfiladed the American works. 

The American position was on the margin of lake Erie, vA 
the entrance of the Niagara river, on nearly a horizontal plain 



o ,: 



.iv>S IUS-TOH¥ OF THE WAH. 

twelve or fifteen feet above the surface of the water, possess 
mg few natural advantages. It had been strengthened in front 
by temporary parapet breast-works, entrenchment, and abbatis, 
with two batteries and six field pieces. The small unfinished 
fort, Erie, with a 24, 18, and 12 pounder, formed the north- 
cast, and the Douglass battery, with an 18 and 6 pounder near 
the edge of the lake, the south-east angle on the right. The 
left was defended by a redoubt battery with six field-pieces, 
just thrown up on a small ridge. The lear was left open to 
the lake, bordered by a rocky shore of easy ascent. The bat- 
tery on the left was defended by captain Towson; Fort Erie 
by captain Williams, with major Trimble's command of the 
19th infantry; the batteries on the front by captains Biddle and 
Fanning; the whole of the artillery commanded by major 
Hindman. Parts of the 11th, 9th, and 22d infantry, were 
posted on the right under the command of lieutenant-colonel 
Aspinwall. General Ripley's brigade, consisting of the 2^st 
and 23d, defended the left. General Porter's brigade of New 
York and Pennsylvania volunteers, with the riflemen, occupied 
the centre. 

During the 13th and 1 4th, the enemy kept up a brisk can- 
nonade, which was sharply returned from the American batte- 
ries, without any considerable loss. One of their sliells lodged 
in a small magazine, in Fort Erie, which was almost empty. — 
It blew \ip with an explosion more awful in appearance than 
injurious in its effects, as it did not disable a man or derange 
a gun. A momentary cessation of the thunders of the artil- 
lery took place on both sides. This was followed by a loud 
and joyous shout by the British army? which was instantly re- 
turned on the part of the Americans, who, amidst the smoke 
of the explosion, renewed the contest by an animated roar of 
the heavy cannon. 

From the supposed loss of am.munition, and the consequent 
depression such an event was likely to produce, general Gaines 
felt persuaded that this explosion would lead the enemy to as- 
sault, and made his arrangements accordingly. These suspi- 
cions were fully verified, by an attack that was made in the 
night between the 14th and 15th of August. 

The night was dark, and the early part of it raining, but ne- 
vertheless one third of the troops were kept at their posts. — 
At half past two o'clock, the right column of the enemy ap- 
proached, and though enveloped in darkness, was distinctly 
heard on the American left, and promptly marked by the mus- 
tiuctry under major Wood and captain Towson. Being mount- 
cH at vKc nioir.cnt, Gaines repaired to the point of attack, 



lilSTOUi OF THK \V All I b9 

where the sbcet of fire rolling from Towsou's battery, and 
tl»e musquetry of the left wing, enabled him to see the enemy's 
column of about 1500 men approuching- on that point; his ad- 
vance was not checked until it had approached within ten feet 
of the infantry. A line of loose brush, representing an abattis, 
only intervened; a colunui of the enemy attempted to pass 
round the abattis, through the water, where it was nearly 
breast deep. Apprehending that this point would be carried, 
Gaines ordered a detachment of riflemen and infantry to its 
support; but at this moment the enemy were repulsed. They 
instantly renewed the charge, and were again driven back. 

On the right, the fire of cannon and musquetry announced 
the approach of the centre and left columns of the enemy, un- 
der colonels Drummond and Scott. The latter was received 
and repulsed by the 9th, under the command of captain Foster, 
and captains Boughton and Harding's companies of New York 
and Pennsylvania volunteers, aided by a six-pounder, judi- 
ciously posted by major M'Kee, chief engineer. 

But the centre, le<l by colonel Drummond, was not long 
kept in check; it approached at once every assailable point of 
the fort, and with scaling-ladders ascended the parapet where, 
however, it was repulsed with dreadful carnage. The assault 
was twice repeated, and as often checked; but the enemy hav- 
ing moved round in the ditch, covered by darkness, encreased 
by the heavy cloud of smoke which had rolled from the can- 
non and musquetry, repeated the charge, re-ascended the lad- 
ders, and with their pikes, bayonets, and spears fell upon the 
American artillerists, and succeeded in capturing the bastion. 
Lieutenant M'Donough being severely wounded, demanded 
quarter. It was refused by colonel Drummond. The lieu- 
tenant then seized a handspike, and nobly defended himself 
until he was shot down with a pistol by the monster who had 
refused him quarter, who often reiterated the order — " give 
the damned Yankees no quarter." This officer, whose bravery, 
if it had been seasoned with virtue, would have entitled him to 
the admiration of every soldier — this hardened murderer soon 
met his fate. He was shot through the breast while repeat- 
ing the order " to give no quarter." 

Several gallant attempts were made to recover the right 
bastion, but ail proved unsuccessful. At this moment every 
operation was arrested by tlie explosion of some cartridges 
deposited in the end of the stone building adjoining the con- 
tested bastion. The explosion was tremendous and decisive: 
the bastion was restored by the flight of the British. At this 
moment captain Bicjdle was ordered to cause a field-piece tor 



160 HISTORY OF THK V.'AIi. 

be posted so as to enfilade the exterior plain and salient glacis. 
Though not recovered from a severe contusion in the shoulder, 
received from one of the enemy's shells, Biddle promptly 
took his position, and served his field-piece with vivacity and 
effect. Captain Fanning's battery likewise played upon them 
at this time with great effect. The enemy were in a few mo- 
ments entirely defeated, taken, or put to flight, leaving on the 
field 221 killed, 174 wounded, and 186 prisoners, including 14 
officers killed and 7 wounded and prisoners. A large portion 
were severely wounded; the slightly wounded, it is presumed, 
were carried off. 

The loss of the Americans during the assault was seventeen 
killed, fifty-six wounded, and eleven missing. The British 
acknowledge only 57 killed, 309 wounded, and 539 missing. — 
During the preceding bombardment, the loss of the Ameri- 
cans was 7 killed, 19 severely and 17 slightly wounded. The 
loss of the British is not mentioned in their official account. 
This bombardment commenced at sun-rise on the morning of 
the 1 3th, and continued without intermission till 8 o'clock, 
P. M.; recommenced on the 14th, at day-light, with increased 
warmth, and did not end until an hour before the comilience- 
ment of the assault on the morning of the 15th. 

During the night preceding the commencement of the bom- 
bardment of Fort Erie, an unfortunate affair for the American 
arras took place on the lake, just behind the fort, in the sur- 
prise and capture of two schooners, by a number of boats full 
of British soldiers. On the boats being hailed, they answered 
*' provision boats," a manoeuvre which deceived the American 
officers, as boats from the fort had been in the habit of passing 
and repassing through the night. The force being overwhelm- 
ing, and the surprise complete, but little effectnal resistance 
was made, and the enterprise was completely successful. The 
Americans had one killed and nine wounded. The loss of the 
assailants was more considerable. 

A short time after the assault on Fort Erie, general Gaines 
received a serious wound from the bursting of a shell, by 
which means the command once more devolved on general 
Ripley, till the 2d of September, when the state of his health 
allowed general Brown again to place hiqiself at the head of 
his army. 

The troops in Fort Erie began now to be generally consi- 
dered a% in a critical situation, and much solicitude to be ex- 
pressed for the fate of the army that had thrown so much glory 
on the American name, menaced as it was in front by an enemy 
of superior force, whose numbers were constantly receiving 



HISTORY OF Tat WAR. 161 

atlditions, and whose batteries were every day becoming more 
formidable, while a river of difficult passage lay on their rear. 
Reinforcements were ordered on from Champlain, but they 
were yet far distant. But the genius of Brown was fully equal 
to the contingency, and the difficulties with which he was en- 
vironed served only to add to the number of his laurels. 

.Though frequent skirmishes occurred about this period, in 
which individual gallantry was amply displayed, yet no event 
of material consequence took place till the 17th of September, 
Avhen having suffered much from the fire of the enemy's bat- 
teries, and aware that a new one was about to be opened, gene- 
ral Brown resolved on a sortie in order to effect their destruc- 
tion. The British infantry at this time consisted of three 
brigades, of 12 or 1500 men each, one of which was stationed 
at the works in front of Fort Erie, the other two occupied their 
camp behind. Brown's intention therefore was, to storm the 
batteries, destroy the cannon, and roughly handle the brigade 
upon duty, before those in reserve could be brought into 
action. 

On the morning of the 17th, the infantry and riflemen, regu- 
lars and militia, were ordered to be paraded and put in readi- 
iTess to march precisely at 12 o'clock. General Porter with 
the volunteers, colonel Gibson with the riflemen, and major 
Brooks with the 23d and 1st infantry, and a few dragoons act- 
ing as infantry, were ordered to move from the extreme left 
upon the enemy's righi, by a passage opened through the woods 
lor the occasion. General Miller was directed to station his 
command in the ravine between Fort Erie and the enemy's 
batteries, by passing them by detachment through the skirts 
of the wood — and the 21st infantry under general Ripley was 
posted as a corps of reserve between the new bastions of Fort 
Erie — all under cover, and out of the view of the enemy. 

The left column, under the command of general Porter, 
which was destined to turn the enemy's right, having arrived 
near the British entrenchments, were ordered to advance and 
commerxe the action. Passing down the ravine. Brown judg- 
ed from the report of the musquetry that the action had com- 
menced. Hastening, therefore, to general Miller, he directed 
him to seize the moment, and pierce the enemy's entrench- 
ments between the batteries No. 2 and 3. These orders were 
promptly and ably executed. Within 30 minutes after the 
first gun was fired, batteries No. 2 and 3, the enemy's line of 
entrenchments, and his two block-houses, were in possession 
of the Americans. 

Soon after, battery No. 1 was abandoned by the British. The 



163 mSTJ^RY OF THE WAR. 

guns in each were then spiked or otherwise destroyed, and the 
magazine of No. 3 was blown up. 

A few minutes before the explosion, the reserve had been 
ordered up under general Ripley, and as soon as he arrived on 
the ground, he was ordered to strengthen the front line, which 
was then engaged with the enemy, in order to protect the de- 
tachments employed in demolishing the captured works. 
While forming arrangements for acting on the enemy's camp 
during the moment of panic, Ripley received a severe wound. 
By this time, however, the object of the sortie being accom- 
plished beyond the most sanguine expectations, general 
Miller had ordered the troops on the right to fall back; and , 
observing this movement. Brown sent his staff along the line 
to call in the other corps. Within a few minutes they retired 
from the ravine, and thence to the camp. 

Thus, says general Brown, in liis dispatch, 1000 regulars 
and an equal portion of militia, in one hour of close action, 
blasted the hopes of the enemy, destroyed the fruits of fifty 
days* labour, and diminished his effective force 1000 men at 
least. 

In their official account of this sortie, the British published 
no returns of their loss, but from their vigorous resistance it 
must no doubt have been very great. Their loss in prisoners 
was 385. On the part of the Americans the killed amounted 
to 83, the wounded to 216, and the missing to a like number. 

A few days after this battle the British raised the siege, and 
retreated behind the Chippewa. Meanwhile the reinforce- 
ments from Plattsburg arrived at Sackett's Harbour, and after 
a few days rest proceeded to the Niagara. They crossed that 
river on the ninth of October, when general Izard, being the 
senior officer, superceded general Brown in the command. 
On the 14th the army moved from Fort Erie, with the design 
of bringing the enemy to action. An attempt was made to 
dispute the passage of a creek at Chippewa plains, but the 
American artillery socn compelled the enemy to retire to their 
fortified camp, when attempts were repeatedly made to draw 
them out the following day, but without effect. A partial en- 
gagement took place on the IQth, which closed the campaign 
on this peninsula. 

General Bissell marched from Black Creek on the morning 
of the 18th, with a body of about 900 men, for the purpose 
of seizing some provisions intended for the British troops. 
After driving before them a picket, of which they made the 
commanding officer prisoner, they encamped for the night, in 
the cource of which the advanced picket was attacked by two 



HISTORY OF THE WAB. 165 

companies of the Glengary light infantry, who were repulsed 
with loss. Next morning Bissell was attacked by a corps of 
about 1200 men, commanded by the marquis of Tweedale. 
The light corps and riflemen sustained the whole fire for about 
fifteen minutes, with the greatest gallantry, until the other 
troops were formed, and brought to their support. 

The 5th regiment, under colonel Pinckney, was ordered to 
skir* the woods and turn the right flank of the enemy; the 
14th, under major Bernard, to form in front, and advance to 
the support of the light troops; the 15th and 16th regiments 
were ordered to act as circumstances might require. The 
well-directed fire of the light corps, and the charge of the 1 4th, 
soon compelled the enemy to give ground; and on discovering 
that his right flank was turned by the 5th, he retreated in the 
utmost confusion, leaving some killed, wounded, and prison- 
ers behind. Bissell pursued them to a ravine, spme distance 
from the scene where the action commenced. Not knowing 
the ground, he did not think proper to push them further, but 
soon after, the country being reconnoitered, it was discovered 
that they had retreated to their strong holds. A large quanti- 
ty of grain was found and destroyed; and, after burying the 
few soldiers who fell, and the enemy's dead who were left on 
the ground, the detachment returned to camp. The killed, 
wounded, and missing in this aff'air amounted to 67, of whom 
12 were killed. 

Before leaving the affairs on this frontier, it will be proper 
to mention the expedition of mounted men under general 
M'Arthur, which proceeded from Detroit towards Burlington 
Heights, for the purpose of destroying the resources of gen- 
eral Drummond's army, and paralising any efforts which might 
be made against Detroit during the winter. 

The detachment, consisting of about 720 Ohio and Kentuc- 
ky volunteers, and a few Indians, left Detroit about the end 
of October. To mask the object of the expedition, a move- 
ment round lake St. Clair was rendered absolutely necessary. 
This circuit caused the troops to be exposed to many difficul- 
lies and hardships in wading frequently along the shores of 
ihc lake; in the passage of several deep and rapid rivers, 
sometimes without boats, and on all occasions encountering 
swamps; yet, notwithstanding these obstacles, such was the 
secrecy and rapidity of the expedition, that the detachment 
was enabled to enter the town of Oxford, 140 miles in the en- 
emy's country, before the inhabitants were apprised that a force 
was approaching. 

On the succeeding day, the detachment proceeded to Bur- 



.164 HiSrORY OF THE WAH. 

ford, where the militia had been embodied in expectation of 
this expedition; but it was found that they had retreated, a few 
hours before, to Malcohn's mills, where they were joined by 
the militia from Long Point. 

It was M'Arthur's intention to cross Grand River, as soon 
as possible, without regarding the militia collected at Malcolm's 
mills, and attack Burlington. But to his great mortification, 
the river was found high and rapid from the late excessive 
rains. Here also the news reached him that the American 
troops had re-crossed the Niagara, leaving only a strong garri- 
son in Fort Erie. These and other considerations presented 
serious objections to any attempt to pass the river; it was 
therefore determined to attack and defeat, or disperse the mili- 
tia at Malcolm's mills move down the Long Point road through 
the Grand River settlement, destroy the valuable mills in that 
quarter, and then teturn to the American territory, either by a 
movement across Grand River at the mouth, to Fort Erie, or 
along Talbot-street to the Thames. 
. To that eifect, a detachment was directed to remain and en- 
gage the attention of the enemy, whilst the principle force 
should be withdrawn and marched to Malcolm's mills. The 
enemy, consisting of four or five hundred militia and a few In- 
dians, was found fortified on commanding ground beyond a 
creek, deep and difficult of passage, except at a bridge imme- 
diately in front of their works, which had been destroyed. Ar- 
rangements were made for a joint attacked on the fort and rear. 
The Ohio troops, with the advance guard and Indians, were ac- 
cordingly thrown across the creek under cover of a thick wood, 
to approrch the enemy in rear, whilst the Kentucky troops 
were to attack in front, as soon as the attention of the enemy 
was engaged by the attack in the rear. The enemy would 
have been completely surprised and captured, had not an un- 
fortunate yell by the Indians announced the approach of the 
detachment destined to attack their rear, they were, however, 
defeated and dispersed, with the loss, in the skirmishes on that 
day, of one captain and seventeen privates killed, nine privates 
wounded, and three captains, five subalterns, and one hundred 
and three privates made prisoners; whilst the loss of the Ame- 
ricans was only one killed and six wounded. Early next morn- 
ing the enemy were pursued on the road to Dover, many made 
prisoners, and five valuable mills destroyed. 

Apprehensive that the troops could not be supplied on the 
route to Fort Erie, and that difficulties would occur in the pas- 
sage of Grand River, together with the uncertainty which ex- 
isted as to the position of general Izard's army, M' Arthur was 



HISTORY OF rH£ WAR. 165 

induced to retiim to Detroit by the way of Talbot-street and 
the Thame.,, which was happily effected on the 17th of No- 
vember. 

Thus this active body of men penetrated two hundred miles 
into the enemy's territory, destroyed two hundred stand of 
arms, together with five of their most valuable mills; paroled 
or dispersed the greater portion of the efficient militia of that 
part of Upper Canada west of Grand River; and then return- 
ed in safety to Detroit, with the loss of only one man. 

Meanwhile, the approach of winter rendering it necessary 
tor the army to retire to comfortable quarters, general Izard 
crossed the major part of his troops into the American terri- 
tory,, leaving a garrison in Erie, which also was soon after 
withdrawn. 

Thus ended a third campaign in Upper Canada without a 
single important conquest being secured. The operations of 
the army under Brov/n, however, are not to be considered as 
worthless and inefficient. They have, in the most complete 
manner, effaced the stain thrown on the army by the imbecile 
efforts of its infancy, and have cast a lustre on the American 
name, by a series of the most brilliant victories, over troops 
heretofore considered matchless. Nor ought wc to lose sight 
of the effect produced by these events on the country at large, 
actively engaged as was almost every citizen, in repelling, or 
in preparing to repel, the invaders of their homes. This ef- 
fect was without doubt extensively beneficial; and perhaps it 
may not be improper to ascribe to Brown and his gallant com- 
panions in arms a part of that renown which the arms of the 
United States have acquired by the defeat, in almost every 
instance, of the powerful forces with Avhich it has been as- 
sailed. 

. The British squadron in the Chesapeake, under admiral 
Cockburn, still contined their system of plunder and devasta- 
tion along the coasts of the bay, and the numerous rivers of 
whicli it forms the estuary. The principal, if not the only 
naval protection to this exposed coast, consisted of the flotilla 
under commodore Barney, but this presented but a very im- 
perfect protection to this extensive line of frontier. 

On the 1st of June, the flotilla, making sail from tlic mouth 
of the Patuxent, with the wind from the northward, discovered 
two of the enemy's schooners doNvn the bay. The schooners 
made signals and fired guns; when a large ship was seen get-* 
ting under way, which dispatched a number of barges to the 
assistance of the schooners. Unfortunately at this time the 
wind shifted, which brought the ship to windv/ard, and Barncv 

P 



loo HISTOKY Oi' THE WAR. 

^vas thus forced to put back into the Patuxent, whither iic 
was followed by a seventy-four, three schooners, and seven 
barges, with a fresh wind. But the gun-boats being in the 
rear, particularly one which was laden with provisions, Barney 
soon found it necessary to hazard an engagement to prevent 
their capture. Accordingly, bringing his sloop and one of the 
gun-boats to an anchor, he sent men on board of the provision 
boat to assist in brint!;ing her in, and made signals for his 
barges to return and join him. At this moment his sloop and 
gun-boat opened a fire on a schooner of the enemy, which was 
leading in with a number of barges. She immediately bore 
up, and got her boats ahead to tow her off, seeing which, the 
American bargcb rowed down upon her and the other schoon- 
ers, and gave them a number of shot at long distance. But 
the chase was soon given vip, and the flotilla returned to port. 
During the firing, a British barge threw a number of rockets, 
which did no execution. 

On the 8th, the enemy being reinforced with a razee and a 
sloop of war brig, the flotilla moved up the Patuxent to the 
mouth of St. Leonard's creek, and on being followed by the 
British squadron, they moved up the creek about two miles, 
and moored in line, abreast, across the channel, where they 
prepared for action. The creek not being accessable to ships, 
the barges of the enemy, fifteen in number, were dispatched 
against the flotilla. As they approached, they advanced a rock- 
et-barge, at which several shot were fired by the flotilla, but 
they fell short, as rockets can be thrown a greater distance 
than shot. Barney therefore got his barges, thirteen in num- 
ber, under weigh, and leaving the sloop and gun-boats at an- 
chor, they rowed down upon the enemy, who precipitately fled 
from their position. The pursuit was continued till the flotilla 
came near tlie enemy's shipping, when, after firing a few shot 
the American barges returned to their moorings. In the af- 
ternoon, the British barges again came up, again threw rock- 
ets, and were again pmsued out of the creek. 

During these encounters, the British are said to have suf- 
fered considerably. The large schooner was nearly destroyed, 
having several shot through her at the water's edge; her deck 
torn up, gun dismounted, and mainmast nearly cut off about 
alf way up, and otherwise much cut. Tliey ran her ashore 
•-) prevent her sinking. The commodore's boat was cut in 
iwn; a shot went tlirough the rocket-boat; one of the small 
-chooners, carrying two thirty-two pounders, had a shot which 
•iked her from aft forward. The boats geuerally buffered, but 
iheir loss vvas not ascertained. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 167 

On the 15th, the enemy having received further reinforce- 
ments, sent a detachment of boats up the river, which took 
possession of Benedict and Marlborough, the latter only 18 
miles from Washington. After plundering a quantity of stock, 
and burning the tobacco warehouses, which, according to the 
British statement, contained 2500 hogsheads of tobacco, they 
returned to their ships. 

Shortly after this aftair, in order to extricate the flotilla from 
its confined situation, a battery was hastily thrown up on a 
point of land at the junction of St. Leonard's creek and the 
Patuxent, and a combined attack being made by tlie flotilla and 
a small body of infantry and artillery, the British squadron was 
forced to drop down the Patuxent, which enabled commodore 
Barney to pass his flotilla up that river. 

At this time no apprehension was entertained of any serious 
attack being made on any important point by the enemy's 
forces in the Chesapeake. But towards the end of June, cer- 
tain intelligence was received of the complete success of the 
allies in the subjugation of France, and government were led 
to believe, as well from communications received from our 
ministers abroad, as from the tone of the British prints, that a 
powerful force was about to be sent to the United States. A 
variety of considerations pointed to Washington City and Bal- 
timore as prominent objects of atluck. 

Immediate measures of defence had therefore become ne- 
cessary; and accordingly a new military district was created, 
embracing the state of Maryland, the District of Columbia, 
and that part of Virginia lying between the Rappahannock and 
Potomack, the command of which was given to general Wfn- 
der. A requisition was made on certain states for a corps of 
93,500 militia, and the executive of each state was requested 
to detach and hold in readiness for immediate service their re- 
spective quotas. Of that requisition, 2000 eftectives from the 
quota of Virginia; 5000 from that of Pennsylvania; 6000, the 
whole quota of Maryland; and 2000, tlie estimated number of 
the militia of the District of Columbia, were put at the dispo- 
sition of general Winder, making an aggregate of 15,000, ex- 
clusive of about 1000 regulars. But this force, which had it 
been well organized, and ready to meet the foe at any threat- 
ened point, would have been amply sufficient for defence, to- 
tally failed in the hour of need. From the tardiness incident 
to the present imperfect militia system of the United States, 
the Virginia and Pennsylvania troops could not be organized 
in time to meet the enemy, although the battle which sealed 
the fate of Washington did not take place till a month after 



168 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

they were called out. And even of the Maryland militia, nearly 
one half joined the army but half an hour before the action.— 
A considerable part of this delay was occasioned by general 
Winder's not receiving the authority to call out the state 
troops for some time after it was issued, owing to his being 
constantly in motion at this period, in order to acquire a com- 
plete knowledge of the topography of the district. 

During the month of July, the enemy's fleet ascended both 
the Potomack and Patuxent, and committed great depreda- 
tions, particularly on the former river. Admiral Cochrane ar- 
rived in the Chesapeake in the beginning of August, and on 
the 1 7th, the fleet, then in great force, was joined by admiral 
Malcolm, with the expedition from Bermuda, destined against 
Baltimore and Washington. 

The circumstance of Barney's flotilla having taken shelter 
at the head of the Patuxent proved extremely favourable to an 
attack on Washington, as it masked the intention of the enemy. 
This attack, therefore, being determined on, Cochrane moved 
his squadron up the river, previously to his entering the 
Patuxent, however, he detached captain Gordon, with a num- 
ber of ships and bombs to the Potomack, to bombard fort 
Warburton, with a view of destroying that fort, and opening a 
free communication above, as well as to cover the retreat of 
the army, should its return by the Bladensburg road be found 
too hazardous. Sir Peter Parker with the Menelaus and 
some small vessels, was sent up the Chesapeake to make a 
diversion in that quarter. The remainder of the naval force, 
and the troops, moved up the Patuxent to Benedict, where 
the army was landed on the 19th and 20th. 

So soon as the necessary provisions and stores could be as- 
sembled and arranged, major-general Ross, with his army, 
moved towards Nottingham, while the British flotilla, consist- 
ing of the armed launches, pinnaces, barges, and other boats 
of the fleet, under admiral Cockburn, passed up the river, 
keeping on the right flank of the army, for the double purpose 
of supplying it with provisions, and, if necessary, of passing it 
over to the left bank of the river, which secured a safe retreat 
to the ships, should it be judged necessary. The army reach- 
ed Nottingham on the 2 1st, and the following day arrived at 
Marlborough. The flotilla, keeping pace with the army, ar- 
rived within sight of Barney's flotilla on the 22d. It was in- 
stantly set on fire by a small party of sailors who had been left 
for that purpose, the commodore having previously joined 
general Winder with the greater part of his force. The flo- 
tilla soon blew up, excepting one vessel, which fell into the 
hands of the enemy. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 169 

While a large regular army, well disciplined and accoutred, 
accompanied with a strong naval force, was thus within !6 
miles of the American capital, the principal part of the force 
destined to defend it had not arrived, and a considerable por- 
tion still remained at their homes. The actual force under 
general Winder only amounted to about 3000 men, of whora 
1400 were regulars, including the marines and sea-fenciblcs 
under commodore Barney; the remainder were volunteers and 
militia, principally from the district of Columbia. The force* 
of the enemy at this time was variously estimated. The bes' 
opinion made them from 5000 to 7000. They were without 
cavalry, and had only two small field-pieces and one howitzer, 
drawn by men. Four hundred of the American troops were 
cavalry, and they had 17 pieces of artillery. 

On the afternoon of the 23d the British army again set out, 
and after some skirmishing with the American advance, in 
which the latter were compelled to retreat, bivouacked for the 
night five miles in advance of Marlborough. Towards sun- 
set, general Winder ordered his troops to retreat to Washing- 
ton, that he might effect a union of his whole forces. I'o this 
he was also induced by the fear of a night attack, from the su- 
periority of the enemy, and want of discipline in his troops, 
and knowing that in such an attack his superiority in artillery 
could not be used. 

Meanwhile general Stansbury arrived at Bladensburg on the 
22d with about 1300 Baltimore militia, and on the evening of 
the 23d he was joined by colonel Sterret with another militia 
regiment from Baltimore, about 500 strong, a rifle battalion of 
about 150 men, and two companies of volunteer artillery, also 
about 150 strong; making Stansbury's whole force about 2100, 
Most of these troops were extremely fatigued by their march 
from Baltimore. 

General Stansbury encamped during the night of the 23d 
on a hill near Bladensburg, with the intention of attacking the 
enemy at reveille next morning, in compliance with previous 
orders from general Winder. Near midnight, a firing from 
the advanced pickets on the road by which the enemy was ex- 
pected, caused the troops to be prepared for action, and they 
were kept under arms till after two the following morning: and 
hardly had they again retired to their tents, when information 
was received from general Winder that he had retreated to the 
city by the Eastern branch bridge. As this movement of 
Winder exposed both the rear and right flank of Stansbury*ij 
troops, and his officers, whom he immediately consulted, were 
unanimous in opinion that his situation on the hill could not 

p2 



I 70 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

be defended v/ith the force then under his command, woril 
down with hunger and fatigue as they were, it was considered 
indispensably necessary that the troops should immediately re- 
tire across the^ bridge at Bladensburg, and take a position 
which they could defend on the road between that place and 
the city. Orders were therefore instantly given to strike tents 
and prepare to march. In about thirty minutes, without noise 
or confusion, the whole were in motion, and about half past 
three in the morning passed the bridge at Bladensburg, which 
leads to the city of Washington. Securing the rear from sur- 
prise, the troops halted in the road till the approach of day 
with a view of finding some place where water could be had, 
that the men might partake of some refreshment. 

Early in the morning of the 24th, the troops were again put 
in motion towards the city, with a view of taking a stand on 
some more favourable ground for defence, when orders were 
received from general Winder to give the enemy battle at 
Bladensburg, should he move that way, and that he would 
join, if necessary. Stansbury immediately ordered his troops 
to retrace their steps to Bladensburg, and took a position to 
the west of that place, in an orchard on the left of the Wash- 
ington road. Here his artillery, consisting of six six-pound- 
ers posted themselves behind a small breastwork of earth, 
which had been lately thrown up, and the riflemen and infan- 
try were posted in the rear and to the left, so as to protect the 
position. This battery commanded the pass into Bladensburg, 
and the bridge leading to Washington. 

Meanwhile general Winder's troops, including commodore 
Barney's command, made a rapid march from Washington, 
and arrived upon the ground just as the enemy made their ap- 
pearance behind Bladensburg. Colonel Beal, with about 800 
militia from Annapolis, had crossed the bridge about half an 
hour before, and posted himself on the right of the Washing- 
ton road. The force which had arrived from the city was form- 
ed in a second line on the right and left of the road in the rear 
of Stansbury's and Beall's command, the heavy artillery under 
commodore Barney being posted on or near the road. 

About half after 12, while the second line was forming, the 
enemy approached, and the battle commenced. The Balti- 
more artillery opened their fire, and dispersed the enemy's 
light troops now advancing along the street of the village, who 
took a temporary cover behind the houses and trees, in loose 
order, and presented objects only occasionally for the fire of 
the cannon. The enemy then commenced throwing his rock- 
ets, and his light troops began to concentrate near the bridge. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. i / i. 

and to press across it and the river, which was fordable above. 
The Baltimore riflemen now united with the fire of the batte- 
ry; and for some time with considerable effect. The enemy's 
column was not only dispersed while in the street, but while 
approaching; the bridge they were thrown into some confusion, 
and the British officers were seen exerting themelves to press 
Uie soldiers on. Having now gained the bridge, the enemy 
passed it rapidly, and immediately flanked, formed the line, 
and advanced steadily on, which compelled the artillery and 
riflemen to give way. But they were soon rallied, and united 
with the other Baltimore troops at a small distance in the rear 
of their first position. One of the pieces of artillery was aban- 
doned and spiked. 

A company of volunteer artillery from the city, under the 
command of captain Burch, and a small detachment near it, 
now opened a cross fire on the enemy, who were partially shel- 
tered by the trees of an orchard, and kept up a galling fire on 
part bf the American line. Colonel Sterret, with one of the 
Baltimore regiments, was ordered to advance, and made a 
prompt movement until ordered to halt: for at this moment 
the other two Baltimore regiments were thrown into confusion 
by the rockets of the enemy, and began to give way. In a 
few minutes they took to flight, in defiance of all the exertions 
of generals Winder and Stansbury and other officers. Burch's 
artillery and Sterret's regiment remained firm until, being 
out-flanked, they Vv'ere ordered to retreat, with a view of re- 
foi'ming at a small distance in the rear. But instead of retir- 
ing in order, the millitia regiment retreated in disorder and 
confusion. Thus was the first line, which consisted almost 
exclusively of Baltimore militia, totally routed and put to 
flight. 

On the right, colonels Beall and Hood, commanding the An- 
napolis militia, had thrown forward a small detachment, under 
colonel Kramer. After maintaining their ground for some 
time with considerable injury to the enemy, this advance was 
driven back on the main body. Their retreat exposed the 
enemy's column in the road to the city artillery, under major 
Peter, which continued an animated discharge on them till 
they came in contact with commodore Barney's command. 
Here the enemy met the greatest resistance, and sustained the 
greatest loss, while advancing upon the retreating line. When 
the British came in full view, and in a heavy column in the 
main road, Barney ordered an eighteen pounder to be opened 
upon them, which completely cleared the road, and repulsed 
them. In several attempts to rally and advance, the enemy 



172 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

were again repulsed, which induced them to flank to the right 
of the American line in an open field. Here three twelve- 
pounders opened upon them, and the flotilla men acted as in- 
fantry with considerable eff'ect. The enemy continued flank- 
ing to the right, and pressed upon the Annapolis militia, which 
gave way after three or four rounds of ineffectual fire, while 
colonel Beall and other officers attempted to rally the men up- 
on their high position. Commodore Barney's command now 
had the whole force of the enemy to contend with. The Brit- 
ish never again, however, attempted to appear in force in front 
but continuing to outflank, pushed forward a few scattering 
sharp-shooters, by whom Barney was wounded, and several of 
his officers killed or wounded. Being now completely out- 
flanked on both sides, the ammunition-waggons having gone off 
in disorder, and that which the marines and flotilla men had, 
being exhausted, Barney ordered a retreat; in consequence of 
his wound, he himself was made prisoner. His pieces fell into 
the hands of the enemy. 

The Georgetown and city militia, and the few regulars which 
were on the field, still remained firm; but being now also out- 
flanked, they were ordered by general Winder to retreat, which 
was effected with as much order as the nature of the ground 
would permit. After retiring five or six hundred paces, they 
were halted and formed, but were algain ordered to retreat, and 
to collect and form on the height near the capitol. Here they 
were joined by a regiment of Virginia militia; who had arrived 
in the city the preceding evening, but had been detained there 
by some difficulties which had arisen in furnishing them with 
arms and ammunition. 

General Winder had endeavoured to direct the retreat of 
the Baltimore troops towards the city, but from the confusion 
in which they fled, was not able to effect it, and they directed 
their course northwardly towards Montgomery court-house. — 
This wrong direction to their course was principally caused 
by their ignorance of there being a second line of troops be- 
hind them, general Winder's forces having arrived just as the 
action commenced. 

The British estimated their loss in this battle at 64 killed, 
and 185 wdunded. The loss of the Americans was estimated 
by the superintending surgeon at 10 or 12 killed, and about 30 
wounded, some of whom afterwards died. The most probable 
estimate of the British force made it about 4500; of the Ameri- 
can 6000; but it must be recollected that the enemy's troops 
were all regulars, who had seen service, and were led by able 
officers of great experience, while the American troops were 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 173 

all militia, with the exception of a few hundred seamen and re- 
gulars; that one half of them Avere not collected together till 
the day before the engagement, and about 800 did not arrive 
till a few minutes before its commencement; that from the un- 
certainty whether Baltimore, the city of Washington, or Fort 
Washington, would be selected as the point of attack, it was 
necessary that the troops should frequently change their posi- 
tions, owing to which, and to alarms causlessly excited on the 
night of the 23d, they were all much fatigued, and many of 
them nearly exhausted, at the time when the hostile army was 
crossing the bridge; and finally, that the officers commanding 
the troops were generally unknown to general Winder, and but 
a very small number of them had enjoyed the benefit of milita- 
ry instruction or experience. When these circumstances are 
taken into consideration, we think we shall not hazard much 
in asserting, now that the violent feelings of the moment have 
subsided, that the American militia rather gained than lost 
honour on the field of Bladensburg. The Baltimore troops 
fought gallantly, until forced to retreat by their flanks being 
turned. — While retreating, by order of their commander, they 
were thrown into confusion by a new mode of warfare, of which 
the effects were to them totally unknown.* The bravery of 
Barney's command needs no comment, and the orderly retreat 
of the Annapolis and District of Columbia militia, in the face 
of a regular army of superior numbers, (now that the Balti- 
more troops had dispersed) is above all praise. 

A remarkable circumstance attendant on this battle was the 
presence of the American president and heads of departments. 
They retreated with the second line of troops to Washington, 
where a consultation was held with the commanding general 
as to the propriety of making a stand on the heights near the 
capitol, or in the capitol itself. General Winder stated, that 
the diminution of his force was such as to render it impossible 
to place his troops in a position which would prevent the ene- 
my from taking him on the flanks as well as in front; and that 
no reasonable hope could be entertained, that any of the troops 
could be relied on to make a resistance as desperate as neces- 
sary, in an isolated building, which could not be supported by 
a sufficiency of troops without: indeed it would have taken 
nearly the whole of the troops, he said, to have sufficiently filled 



* Some of the finest troo/is of France ivere thronvii into con- 
fusion by the rocket brigade at the battle •/ Leifi&iCs 



"^74 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the two wings,* which would have left the enemy masters of 
every other part of the city, and given him the opportmiity, with- 
out risk, in 24 hours to have starved them into a surrender. The 
objection equally applied to the occupation of any particular 
part of the city. It was accordingly determined to retire through 
Georgetown, and take post on the heights in the rear of that 
place, with a view of collecting together the whole of the 
forces. 

It is impossible, says the commander of the militia of the 
district, in his dispatch, to do justice to the anguish evinced by 
the troops of Washington and Georgetown, on the receipt of 
this order. The idea of leaving their families, their houses, 
and their homes, at the mercy of an enraged enemy, was insup- 
portable. To preserve that order which was maintained dur- 
ing the retreat, was now no longer practicable. As they re- 
tired through Washington and Georgetown, numbers were ob- 
taining and taking leave to visit their homes, and again rejoin- 
ing; aud with ranks thus broken and scattered, they halted at 
night on the heights near Tenly Town, and on the ensuing day 
assembled at Montgomery court-house. 

Meanwhile general Ross, after halting his army a short time 
for refreshment, pushed on towards Washington, where he ar- 
rived unmolested about eight in the evening. Having stationed 
his main body on the heights about a mile and a half east of 
the capitol, he led his advance, consisting of about 700 men, 
into the deserted city. 

Washington, though denominated a city, and though the 
seat of the federal government, possesses but an inconsidera- 
ble population, which is sparely scattered over an extensive 
scite: The capitol stands near the centre of the city; the pre- 
sident's palace and navy yard are each distant about a mile 
from that building, in opposite directions. Around each of these 
situations, stands what would elsewhere be denominated a vil- 
lage, and a few scattering rows of buildings have been erected 
on the avenue leading from the capitol to the president's house, 
and thence to Georgetown, each about a mile in length. The 
number of houses in the city does not exceed nine hundred; 
its inhabitants amount to about eight thousand. The capitol 
and the president's house are built of a beautiful white tree- 



* The tivo nvings constituted the whole of the ca/iitol, the cen- 
tral iiart of the building never having been erected. The tvings 
were connected by a slight wooden gallery. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 175 

Stone, and have been deservedly esteemed the finest specimens 
of architecture in the United States, if not upon the continent. 
The Capitol was in an unfinished state, the two wings only hav- 
ing been erected; the upper part of the north wing contained 
the senate chamber, with the committee rooms and office con- 
taining their archives, and the congressional library, a valua- 
ble collection of books; in the lower part was the hall of the 
Supreme Court of the United States. The southern wing was 
exclusively devoted to the hall of the house of representatives 
and their necessary offices, the whole of the upper part being 
occupied by the hall and its galleries. 

^Washington, thus abandoned to the British arms, presented 
now a most deplorable scene. Though surrendered without 
the slightest opposition, and though totally without fortifica- 
tions, the British naval and military commanders (admiral 
Cockburn and general Ross) immediately issued orders for, 
and personally superintended the conflagration of the public 
buildings, with all the testimonials of taste and literature which 
they contained. The capitol and the president's house, to- 
gether with the costly and extensive buildings erected for the 
accommodation of the principal officers of government in the 
transaction of public business, were, on the memorable night 
of the 24th of August, consigned to the flames. The large ho- 
tel on the capitol hill, the great bridge across the Potomac, 
and the private rope-walks, shared the same fate. 

A consultation had been held by the president and the heads 
of departments on the subject of the navy yard, on the morn- 
ing preceding the battle of Bladensburg. The secretary of 
the navy described the situation of the public vessels, and the 
nature of the public property, at the establishment, the vast 
importance of the supplies, and of the shipping, to the enemy, 
particularly as there appeared to be no doubt of his squadron 
forming a junction with his army, should it succeed in the con- 
quest of the capitol (general Winder having distinctly stated 
on the same morning, that Fort Washington could not be de- 
fended); and as, in this.event nothing could be more clear than 
that he would first plunder, and then destroy the building and 
improvements; or, if unable to carry off the plunder and the 
shipping, he would destroy the whole. And if the junction 
should be formed, it would be a strong inducement to the 
enemy to remain, in order to launch the new frigate, which 
the force at his command would accomplish in four or five 
days. He would then carry off the whole of the public stores 
and shipping, and destroy the establishment; and, in the mean 
time, greatly extend the field of his plunder and devastation. 



176 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

Thus, in either case, whether the junction was iormed, or 
whether the army alone entered the city, the loss or destruction 
of the whole of the public property at the navy yard was cer- 
tain. It was, therefore, determined, as the result of this con- 
sultation, that the public shipping, and naval and military stores 
and provisions at the navy yard, should be destroyed, in the 
event of the enemy's obtaining possession of the city. Agree- 
ably to this determination, the trains, which had been previous- 
ly laid, were fired on the approach of the enemy, and the pub- 
lic buildings, stores, and vessels were soon wrapped in flames, 
and were all destroyed, excepting the new schooner Lynx, 
which escaped in an extraordinary manner. The issuing store 
of the yard, and its contents, which had escaped the original 
conflagration, were soon after totally destroyed by the enemy. 

The only loss which the enemy sustained in the city was at 
Greenleaf's point. A detachment was sent down to destroy 
it, and in the midst of their devastations, a firebrand having 
been thrown into a dry well in which a quantity of powder had 
been previously hidden, it exploded with great violence, by 
which a number of lives were lost. 

Nearly the whole of the male population having joined the 
army, a great number of houses were broken open and plun- 
dered by the blacks and a few disorderly inhabitants. The 
conduct of the British in general was orderly.* 

The utmost efforts of general Winder were now devoted to 
collect his troops, and to prepare them to remove down toward 
the city, and hang upon and strike at the enemy whenever an 
opportunity occurred. The next morning, however, intelli- 
gence was received that the enemy had moved for Washing- 
ton the preceding night, and was in full march for Baltimore. 
Winder accordingly advanced as rapidly as was practicable to 
that city; but on his arrival at Snell's bridge, on the Patuxent, 
Winder learned that the enemy was proceeding to IVIarlbo- 
rough, and not toward Baltimore. 

Having completed the destruction of the public buildings 
in the course of the 25th, the British left the city at nine 



* The famous (or rather infamous) Cockburu must be ex- 
cefitedfrom this remark. He so far laid aside the dignity of a 
British admiral as meanly to revenge himself on the firojierty 
cfa /irinter, ivhoy he said, had been giving him some hard rubs. 
A file of soldiers were e.mfiloyed to ransack his office and des- 
troy his tyfies and presses. What a magnanimous s/iectacle ! 
r<;hat a chivalrous sfiirit ivas here displayed.' 



HISTORY OF THE WAU. 177 

that niglit, and by a rapid march reached Marlborough in the 
course of the next day. On the evening of the 29th they 
reached Benedict, and re-embarked the following day. 

Meanwhile captain Gordon proceeded up the Potomac with 
his squadron, consisting of two frigates, two bomb-vessels, 
two rocket-ships, and a schooner. Owing to the shoals, and 
contrary winds, they were not able to reach Fort Washington, 
about fifteen miles below the city, until the evening of the 
27th, two days after the army under Ross had commenced 
their retreat. The bomb-ships immediately began to bom- 
bard the fort; but on the bursting of the first shell the gar- 
rison was observed to retreat, and in a short time, to the great 
surprise of the British commander, the fort was blown up. 

When the British army first left the Patuxent, their desti- 
nation could not be foretold by general Winder. Baltimore, 
Fort Washington, and the Federal city seemed equally threat- 
ened. Fort W^ashington, which commands the Potomac, was 
considered almost impregnable to any attack by water, though 
too weak to be defended against any large force by land. — 
Captain Dyson, the cemmander, therefore, was instructed, in 
case the British army should approach his rear, to blow up 
the fort, and proceed witli his command across the Potomac. 
But nothing was farther from the intention of general Winder 
than that this important post should be deserted, on being at- 
tacked by a naval force.* 

Nothing was now left to oppose the progress of the Brit- 
ish squadron, and they proceeded slowly up the river to 
Alexandria, with their barges employed in sounding in ad- 
vance.. 

On the day preceding the battle of Bladensburg, a commit- 
tee of vigilance, which had been appointed by the inhabitants 
to watch over the saiety of Alexandria, in this time of peril, 
despairing, they allege, of receiving any assistance from the' 
general government, and having information of the rapid ap- 
proach of the enemy towards the capital by land, and that their 
bquadron was approaching Alexandria by water, deemed it 



* Cajitain Dyson alleged, in justification, that he had learnt 
that the enemy had been reinforced at Benedict, 2000 strongs 
and that they were on their march to co-ofierate with thefeet^ 
in addition to the force nvhich left the city. But surely he 
should not have deserted his fiost on a vague rumour, which 
this must have been. He was shortly after tried by a court 
martialy and dismissed the service. 

Q 



178 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

their duty to recommend to the common council the passage 
of a resolution, that in case the British vessels should pass 
the fort, or their forces approach the town by land, and there 
should be no sufficient force to oppose them, with any reason- 
able prospect of success, they should appoint a committee to 
carry a flag to the officer commanding the enemy's force about 
to attack the town, and to procure the best terms in their 
power for the safety of persons, houses, and property. This 
resolution was unanimously adopted by the common council, 
and on the arrival of the British at Washington, a flag was 
sei^t to the British commander there, to know what treatment 
might be expected from him, in case his troops should ap- 
proach Alexandria, and should succeed in obtaining posses- 
sion of the town. The deputation were assured by admiral 
Cockburn, that private property of all descriptions should be 
respected; that it was probable that fresh provisions an!^ some 
flour might be wanted, but that whatever they did take should 
be paid for. 

After the blowing up of Fort Washington a similar deputa- 
tion was despatched to the naval commander. But Gordon had 
other intentions than those, avowed by Cockburn. He would 
give no reply until he had placed his shipping in such a posi- 
tion before the town, as would ensure assent to the hard terms 
he had decided to enforce. These were, the surrender of all 
naval and ordnance stores, public and private, and all the ship- 
ping and merchandise of the town. Gordon having arranged 
his vessels along the town, the defenceless inhabitants were 
forced to submit; and the plunderers took possession of three 
ships, three brigs, several bay and river craft, 16,000 barrels of 
Hour, 1000 hogsheads of tobacco, 1 50 bales of cotton, and wine, 
sugar, and other articles to the value of about 5000 dollars. 

But though Gordon, with his buccaneering crew, had thus 
taken possession of Alexandria, without a single gun being 
fired against him, he was not destined to carry off his booty en- 
tirely unmolested. General Hungerford arrived near Alexan- 
dria with the Virginia militia, and commodores Rodgers, Por- 
ter, and Perry, with a detachment of sailors from Baltimore. 
It was not deemed proper to disturb the enemy at Alexandria, 
as that would probably cause the destruction of the place. Com- 
modore Porter, therefore, proceeded down the river, and threw 
up an entrenchment on a bluff, not far from the ruins of the fort, 
on the opposite side of the river; and commodore Perry threw 
up another a little below. The arrival of a small despatch ves- 
sel, which had to fight its way past Porter's battery, convinced 
Gordon he had no time to lose, awd he theretore precipitately 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. l''^ 

left Alexandria, without waiting to destroy the stores which he 
had not the means of carrying off. 

To endeavour to clear tne passage, Gordon first sent down 
a bomb-ship and two barges, one carrying a long thirty-two 
pounder, the other a mortar. These vessels commenced their 
operations on Porter's battery, the bomb-ship throwing shells 
in front, out of the reach of shot, the barges flanking on the 
right. 

When the small vessel passed upwards, the preceding day, 
Porter had only two small fou^-pounders, but the same evening 
two eighteen pounders reached his position. His force con- 
sisted principally of sailors; some navy and militia officers and 
private citizens acted as volunteers. General Hungerford's 
militia, who were ordered to co-operate, were stationed in the 
woods on each side of the battery, in such positions as would 
effectually protect its rear, in the event of the enemy's land- 
ing. These positions, it was supposed, would have enabled them 
to clear the enemy's decks with their musquetry, and in a great 
measure serve to divert his fire from the battery, while the 
thick woods on the high bank would conceal them from view. 

The firing lasted all day without intermission; several shells 
fell near, and burst over the battery, but this had no other ef- 
fect than to accustom the militia to the danger. In the after- 
noon Porter, took an eighteen pounder to a more advanced 
point, about a mile distant, and commenced a fire on the bomb- 
ship, Avhich did so much execution as to draw on him the fire 
of all the vessels, including a schooner and an eighteen gun 
brig which had dropped down that day. 

The following day (August 3) Gordon left Alexandria with 
his prizes, which he anchored above the battery, out of the 
reach of the cannon. The bombarding vessels were reinforced 
by another bomb-ship, and a sloop of war fitted up as a rocket 
ship. The latter anchoring within reach of the battery, Por- 
ter was enabled to play on her with great effect, and compelled 
her to change her position. All this day and the succeeding 
night, the enemy kept up a brisk fire of shot, shells, and rockets. 

Within a few hours of the departure of the enemy, commo- 
dore Rodgers arrived at Alexandria from above, with three 
small fire vessels, under the protection of four barges or cut- 
ters manned with about 60 seamen armed with muskets. He 
immediately proceeded to attack two frigates and a bomb-ship, 
which lay about two miles below. The failure of the wind, just 
as they were within reach of the enem.y, prevented any benefi- 
cial effect being produced. On their approach, the whole of 
the enemy's boats were put in motion. Some were employed 



•80 HISTOllY OF THEWAR. 

in towini? off the fire-vessels, and the remainder in pursuit of 
Rodgers' cutters. They did not, however, venture to come 
•within musket shot, though much superior both in force and 
numbers, but continued at a distance firing their great guns 
for about half an hour, and then retired to their ships. 

The following day another fire-vessel was prepared; but it 
being calm, "^Rodgers ordered his lieutenant and the four cut- 
ters to proceed with a lighter, carrying an eighteen pounder, 
to attack a bomb-ship, which, in the anxiety of the enemy to 
get below the works which Porter and Perry had thrown up, 
had been left exposed to attack. At sunset, however, just as 
he was about to give orders to attack the bomb, Rodgers disco- 
vered one of the enemy's frigates behind a point, which obliged 
him to relinquish this determination, and give orders to pro- 
ceed across to the Virginia shore, to haul up the boats, and 
place the lighter in a situation to be defended against th^arges 
of the enemy. 

About nine o'clock at night, Rodgers again shifted his situa- 
tion to the opposite shore, owing to a man being seized under 
suspicious circumstances on the beach, near a small boat, about 
a mile above the enemy's headmost ship. The culters were 
now hauled up, the lighter placed in an advantageous position, 
and the seamen on the top of a cliff overlooking the river. — 
Scarcely had this arrangement been completed, when an at- 
tack was made by all the enemy's barges. It was met with 
great intrepidity, the enemy were thrown into confusion, and 
driven back with loss. The only injury which Rodgers sus- 
tained, was one man wounded on board the lighter. 

The work at Porter's battery continued to go on; five light 
field-pieces, from four to six pounders, arrived and were plant- 
ed, and hopes were entertained of soon receiving some long 
thirty-two pounders from Washington; a furnace was built for 
hot shot, and time only appeared necessary to make the bat- 
tery formidable. The whole of the 4th and 5th, an incessant 
fire was kept up by the enemy night and day. He had once at- 
tempted landing at night, it is supposed with an intention of 
spiking the guns of the battery, but was repulsed by the picket 
guard. The plan of annoying him by advancing guns was now 
adopted with better effect than before. The rocket-ship lying 
close in shore, was much cut up by a twelve-pounder and two 
sixes carried to a point; scarcely a shot missed its hull, and 
for one hour the fire of all the enemy's force was drawn to this 
point. 

The want of ammunition now caused a suspension of firing 
at the battery at a most unfortunate moment, just as camn^O' 



HISTOllY OF THE WAR. 181 

dorc Rodgers was approaching with his last fire-ship. The 
enemy being thus enabled to direct tlie whole of their atten- 
tion towards him, Rodgers was forced to fire the vessel pre- 
maturely; and order his boats to retire, to prevent their being 
taken possession of by the numerous barges of the enemy. 

Some thirty-two pounders now arrived at the battery, and 
carpenters were employed to make carriages. Two mortars, 
a large quantity of ammunition, and an abundance of shot and 
shells were also received; two barges were equipping, and 
every thing promised that the battery would speedily be put in 
a proper state for annoying the enemy. In the evening two 
frigates anchored above, making the whole force of the enemy 
opposed to the battery, three frigates, three bomb-ships, a 
sloop of war, a brig, a schooner, and two barges, carrying al- 
together 173 guns. The guns mounted in the battery were 
three'^8 pounders, two 12 pounders, six 9 pounders, and two 
fours. The two mortars were without carriages, as were all 
the thirty-two's, for notwithstanding every effort was made, 
both at Washington and on the spot, they could not be com- 
pleted in time. 

On the morning of the 6th, the enemy showing a disposi- 
tion to move, intelligence to that effect was sent to general 
Hungerford, and preparations made to meet them ^tthe batte- 
ry with hot shot. About 12 o'clock the two frigates got under 
way, with a fair wind and tide, and stood down; the rocket- 
sloop, bomb-vessels, brig, schooner, and prizes followed in suc- 
cession, the gun-boats endeavouring to flank the battery on the 
right. Porter immediately dispatched an officer to general. 
Hungerford, to request him to take the position agreed upon 
in the woods on the heights; but from the distance of his camp, 
and the quick approach of the enemy; he was unable to march 
before the firing commenced, and after that period, it was 
rendered impossible, from the vast quantities of shot, shells, 
and rockets which were showered over the hills and fell among 
his troops. 

As the enemy approached, a well directed fire was kept up 
from the battery with hot and cold shot. The officers and men 
stood the broadsides of the ships with unpai-alleled firmness. 
But from the m^^ilitia not making their appearance, the whole 
of the enemy's fire was directed at the battery. Porter, there- 
fore, finding that in a few minutes all the enemy's force woul4 
be brought to bear on him, and entertaining no hopes of pre- 
venting his passing, as some of his men had already been killed 
and woimded, he determined not to make a useless sacrifice. 
When tihe enemy was on the point of anchoring abreast the 



^^^ HJSTORY OF THE WAR. 

battery, therefore, after sustaining his fire an hour and a quar- 
ter, the commodore directed the officers and men to retire be- 
hind a hill on the left, and be in readiness to charge the enemy 
if he should land to spike the guns. The two frigates anchor- 
ed abreast, the bombs, sloops, and smaller vessels passed out- 
side them, all pouring into the battery and neighbouring woods 
a tremendous fire of every description of missile. In the 
woods on the left, a company of riflemen from Jefferson coun- 
ty, Virginia, under captain George W. Humphreys, greatly 
distinguished themselves by a well-directed fire on the ene- 
my's decks, as did a company of militia under the command of 
captain Gena, who was posted on the right. The first lost one 
man killed, and one sergeant and four privates wounded; the 
latter, two privates killed. After the bombs, gun vessels, and 
prizes had all passed, the frigates proceded down and anchor- 
ed abreast of commodore Perry's battery, v^here a constant 
firing was kept up until after sun-set. 

But the guns of Perry's battery were of too small calibre to 
make much impression on the enemy. A single eighteen 
pounder, which arrived only thirty minutes before the firing 
began, ill supplied with ammunition, was the only gun that 
could be of much service . The ammunition of this gun, and 
that of several of the six-pounders, being expended, and the 
fire of the enemy being very heavy, it was thought advisable 
lo^etire a short distance in the rear. This was done in good 
order, after sustaining their fire for more than an hour. 

The advantageous situation of this battery prevented the 
enemy from doing much injury. Only one man was wounded. 
The number of killed and wounded at commodore Porter's bat- 
tery did not exceed thirty. The loss of the enemy was seven 
killed, and thirty-five wounded. 

Sir Peter Parker, who was sent up the Chesapeake to make 
a diversion in favour of this expedition, was the least fortunate 
of the commanders. He met his death in a conflict with a small 
body of militia on the eastern shore of Maryland, under the 
command of colonel Reid. 

A force of about 150 men was landed at night from his ves- 
sel, at the head of which he placed himself, with the intention 
of surprising the militia in their camp. The movement of the 
British barges, however, had been discovered, and every pre- 
paration was made to give them a warm reception. The camp 
and baggage were removed, and the troops posted on a rising 
ground,'flanked on both sides with woods, with the artillery in 
the centre. The head of the enemy's column soon appeared, 
and received the fire of the American advance at 70 paces dis- 



HISTORY OF THE WAIJ 183 

tance. Being pressed by superior numbers, the advance were 
ordered to retire, and form on the right of the line. The lire 
now became general, and was sustained by the militia with the 
most determined valour. The enemy pressed in front: but be- 
ing foiled, he threw himself on the left flank; where his efforts 
were equally unavailing. 

The tire of the enemy had nearly ceased, when Reid, the 
commander of the militia, was informed that the cartridges 
were entirely expended in some parts of the line, and that none 
of the men had more than a few rounds, although each had 
brought twenty into the field. The artillery cartridges were 
entirely expended. Under these circumstances, the troops 
were ordered to fall back to a convenient spot where a part of 
the line was fortified, for the purpose of distributing the re- 
maining cartridges. 

But the enemy having sustained a severe loss found it more 
prudent to retreat than to pursue. They retired to the beach, 
carrying with them all the wounded they could find, among 
whom was sir Peter Parker, who expired a few minutes after 
being carried from the field. The loss of the British on this 
occasion was 1 4 killed and 27 wounded. The Americans had 
only three wounded. Nothing but the want of ammunition 
could have saved the whole party of the British from capture. 
With the multitude, success in war is generally supposed to 
indicate wisdom in our rulers, while defeat is uniformly attri- 
buted either to their folly and weakness, or to treasonable pur- 
poses. The clamour which arose out of the disaster of our 
arms, which led to the capture of Washington, was particularly 
directed aeainst general Winder, who commanded the Ameri- 
can forcesrand general Armstrong, the secretary of war, but 
chiefly against the latter. So violent was the ferment of the 
public m'ind in the District of Columbia, that the president was 
forced to yield to the clamour, and request the secretary to re- 
sign. His place was filled /jro tem. by colonel Monroe, the se- 
cretary of state. 

The conduct of the British while in possession of Washing- 
ton and Alexandria, is withotua parallel in the history of civil- 
ized nations. In the wars of modern Europe, no examples of 
the kind, even among nations the must hostile to each other, 
can be traced. In the course of the last ten or twelve years, 
most of the capitals of the principal powers of Europe have 
been entered by Bonaparte, at the head of his victorious troops, 
yet no one instance of such wanton and unjustifiable destruc- 
tion has been seen. And yet this is the chief whose conduct 



184 HISTORY OF THE WAR 

the British have affected to consider as outraging ail IJie laws 
of civilized war. 

But it has been attempted to justify this wanton destruction, 
under the plea of retaliation. Admiral Cochrane, in a letter to 
the secretary of state, dated the day previous to the debarka- 
tion of Ross' army, though not delivered till after the destruc« 
tion at Washington, stated, that having been called upon by 
the governor-general of the Canadas to aid him in carrying in- 
to effect measures of retaliation against the inhabitants of the 
United States, for the wanton destruction committed by their 
army in Upper Canada, it had become imperiously his duty, 
conformably with the nature of the governor-general's applica- 
tion, to issue to the naval force under his command an order 
to destroy and lay waste such towns and districts upon the 
coast as might be found assailable. 

This general accusation was rebutted by Mr. Monroe, in his 
answer to this letter. The secretary declared it to have been 
the resolution of government, from the very commencement 
of the war, to wage it in a manner most consonant to the prin- 
ciples of humanity, and to those friendly relations which it was 
desirable to preserve between the two nations, after the res- 
toration of peace. This resolution had never been deviated 
from, although it was perceived, with the deepest regret, that 
a spirit so just and humane was neither cherished nor acted 
upon by the British government. Without dwelling on the 
deplorable cruelties committed by the savages in the British 
ranks, and in British pay, on American prisoners at the river 
Raisin, which to this day have never been disavowed or atoned, 
I refer, continued the secretary, as more immediately connect- 
ed with the subject of your letter, to the wanton desolation that 
was committed at Havre-de-Grace, and at Georgetown, early 
in the spring of 1813. These villages were burnt and ravaged 
by the naval forces of Great Britain, to the ruin of their un- 
armed inhabitants, who saw with astonishment that they de- 
rived no protection to their property from the laws of war. — 
During the same season, scenes of invasion and pillage, car- 
ried on under the same authority, were witnessed all along the 
waters of the Chesapeake, tr> an extent inflicting the most se^ 
rious private distress, and under circumstances that justified 
the suspicion, that revenge and cupidity, rather than the man- 
ly motives that should dictate the hostility of a high-minded 
foe, led to their perpetration. 

Although these acts of desolation invited, if they did not 
impose on. the government, the necessity of retaliation; yet in 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 185 

no instance has it been authorised.* The burning of the vil- 
lage of Newark, in Upper Canada, was posterior to the early 
outrages above enumerated. The village of Newark adjoined 
Fort George, and its destruction was justified by the officer 
who ordered it, on the ground that it became necessary in the 
military operations there. The act, however, was disavowed 
by the government. The burning which took place at Long 
Point was unauthorised by the government, and the conduct 
of the officer subjected to the investigation of a military tribu- 
nal. For the burning at St. David's, committed by stragglers, 
the officer who commanded in that quarter was dismissed with- 
out trial, for not preventing it. 

I am commanded by the president distinctly to state, con- 
tinued the secretary, that it as little comports with any orders 
which have been issued to the military and naval commanders 
of the United States, as it does with the established and known 
humanity of the American nation, to pursue a system which it 
appears you have adopted. This government owes it to itself, 
to the principles which it has ever held sacred, to disavow, as 
justly chargeable to it, any such wanton, cruel, and unjustifia- 
ble warfare. Whatever unauthorised irregularity may have 
been committed by any of its troops, it would have been ready, 
acting on these principles of sacred and eternal obligation, to 
disavow, and as far as might be practicable, to repair. 

But the government, it appears, was mistaken in attributing 
this general charge against the American troops in Upper 
Canada, to the destruction of the villages alluded to in the 
secretary's letter. The governor of Canada, in an address to 
the' provincial parliament, on the 24th of January, 1815, as- 
serted, " that, -as a just retribution, the proud capitol at Wash- 
ington, had experienced a similar fate to that inflicted by an 
American force on the seat of government in Upper Canadaj" 



* IVe have always been of opinio n^^ that our gov eminent luas 
highly reprehensible^ if not in the failure to adopt retaliatory 
measures.^ at least to make a aolemn appeal to the British go- 
vernment and to the ivorld, on the subject of these devastations. 
The outrages 'were not committed in the heat of the ?no?nent, or 
by an inferior officer, but by parties which nvere generally led 
by an ad?niral, and apparently in a systematic manlier, IVe 
cannot bring ourselves to believe, that if a decided stand had 
been taken, this abominable system of outrage would have con- 
tinued to desolate the shores of the Chesapeake to the end of 
the war. 



186 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

and the chancellor of the exchequer, in a debate in the British 
parliament, on an address to the prince regent, in Novennber, 
1814, was still more e^iplicit. The Americans at York, he 
asserted, " not only burnt the house of the governor, but also 
every house belonging to the meanest individual, even to a 
shell, and left the populace in the most wretched condition." 

Thus, in the great as in the little world, one wrong inevita- 
bly treads on the heels of another. The same cowardly spirit 
which dictated the orders for devastating the American coast, 
was apparent on this occasion, when, cowering under the re- 
proaches of their compatriots for the stain they had cast on the 
British arms, the ministry were forced to shelter themselves 
under the most base and malignant untruths. But the reign 
of falsehood is always short. These official assertions produced 
an investigation of the subject by congress, which must cover 
with shame the authors of this slander. 

From this investigation it appears, that nothing was destroy- 
ed by the American comncander, excepting the barracks and 
public storehouses. That several of the most valuable public 
buildings were destroyed by the explosion of a magazine, 
which the British set fire to as the Americans entered the 
place, and which proved fatal to general Pike, and to a vast 
number of his brave followers. That, notwithstanding this 
great provocation for burning the town, nothing of the kind 
took place; a strong guard was set, with positive orders to pre- 
vent any plunder or depredation on the inhabitants; and when 
leaving the place, the commander of the American troops re- 
ceived a letter from judge Scott, chief justice of the superior 
court, in which he expressed his thanks for the humane treat- 
ment the inhabitants had experienced from his troops, and for 
the commander's particular attention to the safety of their per- 
sons and property. The destruction of public edifices for civil 
uses was not only unauthorised, but positively forbidden by the 
American commanders. It has recently however appeared, 
that a public building, of little value, called the parliament- 
house (not the government house), had been burnt, in which 
an American scalp was found, (as appears by the official letter 
of commodore Chauiicey, to the secretary of the navy), as a 
part of the decoration of the speaker's chair; whether it was 
an accidental consequence of the confusion in which the ex- 
plosion of the magazine involved the town, or the unauthorised 
act of some exasperated individual, has not been ascertained. 
The silence of the military and civil officers of the provincial 
government of Canada, seem to indicate that the transaction 
was not deemed, when it occurred, a cause, either for retalia- 
tion or reproach c 



HISTORY OF THE WAI^ 187 

The burning of Newark and of the Indian towns on the river 
Thames, commonly called the Moravian towns, are also ad- 
verted to in the report arising out of this investigation. The 
burning of Newark, it is stated, was vindicated by the Ameri- 
ciin general, as necessary to his military operations; but as 
soon as the American government heard of it, instructions, 
dated the 6th of January, 1814, were given by the department 
of war, to major-general Wilkinson, " to disavow the conduct 
of the ofRcer who committed it, and to transmit to governor 
Prevost a copy of the order, under colour of which that officer 
had acted.'* This disavowal was accordingly communicated, 
and on the 10th February, 1814, governor Prevost answered, 
" that it had been with great satisfaction he had received the 
assurance, that the perpetration of the burning of the town of 
Newark, was both unauthorised by the American government, 
and abhorrent to every American feeling; that if any outrages 
had ensued the wanton and unjustifiable destruction of New- 
ark, passing the bounds of just retaliation, they were to be at- 
tributed to the influence of irritated passions, on the part of 
the unfortunate sufferers by that event, which, in a state of 
active warfare, it had not been possible altogether to restrain, 
and that it was as little congenial to the disposition of his ina- 
jesty's government, as it was to that of the government of the 
United States, deliberately to adopt any plan of policy, which 
had for its object the devastation of private property." 

But the disavowal of the American government was not the 
only expiation of the unauthorised offence committed by its 
officer; for the British government undertook itself to redress 
the wrong. A few days after the burning of Newark, the Bri- 
tish and Indian troops crossed the Niagara for this purpose; 
they surprized and seized Fort Niagara; they burnt the vil- 
lages of Lewistown, Manchester, Tuscarora, Buffaloe, and 
Black Rock, desolating the whole of the Niagara frontier, and 
dispersing the inhabitants in the extremity of the winter. Sir 
George Prevost himself appears to have been satisfied with 
the vengeance that had been inflicted; and, in his proclamation 
of the 1 2th of January, 1814; he expressly declared, that for 
the burning of Newark, '* the opportunity of punishment had 
occurred; that a full measure of retaliation had taken place, 
and that it was not his intention to pursue further a system of 
warfare, so revolting to his own feelings, and so little conge- 
nial to the British character, unless the future measures of 
the enemy should compel him again to resort to it." With 
his answer to major-general Wilkinson, which has been al- 
ready noticed, he transmitted a copy of the proclamation, " as 



188 HISTORY OF THK WAR. 

expressive of the determination as to his future line of con- 
duct," and added, " that he was happy to learn, that there 
was no probability, that any measures, on the part of the 
American government, would oblige him to depart from it." 

The places usually called the Moravian towns, were mere 
collections of Indian huts and cabins, on the river Le Trench 
or Thames, not probably worth, in the whole, one thousand 
dollars. The Indians who inhabited them, among whom were 
some notoriously hostile to the United States, had made incur- 
sions the most cruel into their territory. When, therefore, 
the American army under general Harrison invaded Cauada 
in 1813, the huts and cabins of the hostile Indians were de- 
stroyed. But this species of warfare has been invariably pur- 
sued by every nation engaged in war with the Indians of the 
American continent. However it may be regretted on the 
score of humanity, it appears to be the necessary means of 
averting the still greater calamities of savage hostility; and it 
is believed, that the occurrence would never have been made 
the subject of a charge against the American troops, if the 
fact had not been misrepresented or misunderstood. Many 
people at home, and most people abroad, have been led to sup- 
pose, that the Moravian towns were the peaceable settlements 
of a religious sect of Christians, and not the abode of a hostile 
tribe of savages. 

But while excuses are thus framed with a view of palliating 
the devastation committed ])y the British army, not one at- 
tempt is made to palliate or excuse the navy for its plunder of 
the wealthy town of Alexandria, or for the system of pitiful 
pilfering which was carried on for two summers in the Chesa- 
peake. Is the plunder and devastation of the property of pri- 
vate individuals, then less henious than the destruction of pub- 
lic edifices? or is the world so accustomed to the system of 
wholesale privateering, unauthorised by the laws of naval war- 
fare, as to pass over without comment, when committed by 
naval officers, not only the sack of a large town, but the deso- 
lation of whole districts? 

The general orders of Brown, on crossing the Niagara, form 
a pleasing contrast to the devastating threat of Cochrane. 
« Upon entering Canada,'' says he, " the laws of war* will 



* " War is at best a savage things, and nvades through a sea 
of -violence and injustice; yet even tvar itself has its laivsy 
which men of honour will not depart from.'' — Plutarch, life of 
Camillus. 



IIISTOUY OF THE WAR. ISO 

will govern; men found in arms, or otherwise engaged in the 
service of the enemy, will be treated as enemies; those behav- 
ing peaceable, and following their private occupations, will be 
treated as friends. Private property will in all cases be held 
sacred; public property, wherever found, will be seized and 
disposed of by the commanding general. Any plunderer shall 
be punished with death, who shall be found violating this or- 
der." 

. -An intelligent French writer, in noticing the capture of Ber- 
lin by the Russians in 1760, remarks, that two important mili- 
tary principles may be deduced from that event. 1st. That 
the possession of a capital does not decide the fate of a state, 
or even of a campaign. 2d. That in the modern art of war, 
men are of more importance then fortified places, and that a 
general should never acknowledge himselV vanquished, though 
all his strong holds be subdued, if he retain his soldiers and 
his constancy. If these observations be correct in their ap- 
plication to European capitals, how much more forcibly do 
they apply to that of the federal government, a mere open vil- 
lage, of about 8000 inhabitants, and in a country thinly popu- 
lated! Indeed the capture of Washington cannot be viewed in 
any other light than as a predatory incursion, under the pre- 
tence of retaliation, but really with the view of striking terror 
and inducing submission, and at the same time producing an 
effect in Europe, where the occupation of the capital of their 
enemy, it was doubtless conceived, would be viewed as a most 
brilliant exploit. General Ross ha'd neither the intention nor 
the means of holding Washington. Without artillery or stores, 
he was unable to remain longer than 24 hours, when a retreat 
was commenced under favour of the night, and even then this 
retreat would have been extremely hazardous, but for the dis- 
organized state of his opponents, and their blameable defi- 
ciency in the article of intelligence. It is true, that had they 
remained a few days longer, a communication with their ship- 
ping would have been opened by the Potomac, but this arose 
from a circumstance that could not have been foreseen, and 
Ross certainly acted wisely in not calculating on the destruc- 
tion of Fort Washington by its commander. 

But the capture of Washington produced in Europe a very 
different effect from what was expected. The Gothic bar- 
barity displayed in the wanton destruction of the public build- 
ings roused the indignation of the whole continent, and even 
produced such a sensation in the British parliament, as to 
cause its instigators to resort to falsehood to shield them from 
the pubtic odium. The agitation of the question also drew 

R 



190 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

from the ministry a statement, that instructions had been' sent 
to the coast of America to desist from further inflictions of 
vengeance. 

The threats of devastation and their piratical operations in 
the district of Columbia, produced an electric effect through- 
out the union. A spirit of patriotism was kindled by the 
flames of the capitol, before which all party considerations 
and honest differences of opinion vanished. The war, at its 
commencement, was considered an inexpedient measure, by a 
large and respectable portion of the community. The mode 
of conducting it also, by the invasion of Canada, was con- 
demned as inefficacious; as resembling more a war for foreign 
conquest, than a resolute assertion of our naval rights, 'which 
ought, it was said, to be conquered on the ocean. All aid, 
either in men or money, was consequently as much as possi- 
1 le withheld by those who embraced these sentiments. Party 
considerations had no doubt their effect in producing this re- 
sult. It was not to be expected, that the opposition would 
fail to make use of the same popular topics which had been 
so successfully wielded against them when in power, and 
which had finally driven them from their seats. 

But at this interesting crisis a new spirit pervaded the nation, 
which aroused it almost instantaneously to arms. Party ran- 
cour, for a moment, seemed utterly extinct; " this is not the 
time for speaking, but for acting," became the universal cry. 
Ail classes seemed inspired with military ardour; the young 
and ihe old, the rich and the poor, rushed into the ranks, came 
forward with their contributions, and assisted in the labour of 
raising works of defence. Nor were even the females idle at 
this trying moment. Their labours were united in accoutring 
the volunteers, and iu providing for their necessities. 

These movements were little if at all regulated by the go- 
vernments either of the states or of the union. It appeared 
as if the people, perceiving that the powers with which they 
had entrusted their rulers were either incompetent to the crisis, 
or had not been sufficiently acted on, had determined sponta- 
neously to arise in their might, and take the defence of their 
respective neighbourhoods upon themselves. Committees of 
vigilance or defence were every where appointed by the peo- 
ple in the town meetings, who collected money, arms, and 
ammunition, regulated the military movements of the citizens, 
and superintcndtd their voluntary labour at the fortifications. 
Nor was the public enthusiasm unavailing. From this mo- 
ment, almost every encounter with the enemy shed new lus- 
tre on the American arms, till ihc war finully closed in a blaze 
of glory at New-Orleans. 



IIISTOIIY OF THE WAR. 191 

The unanimity which prevailed at this period cannot perhaps 
be exemplified more strikingly than by the proclamations of 
governor Chittenden. — Shortly after his election to the chief 
tnagistracy of Vermont, in the fall of 1813, Chittenden issued 
a proclamation, ordering a brigade of Vermont militia, then at 
Plattsburgh, in the service of the United States, to return to 
their homes, on the pretence that it was highly improper that 
the militia should be placed under the command of, and at the 
disposal of an officer of the United States, and outof the juris- 
diction or controul of the executive of Vermont, and marched 
to the defence of a sister state, fully competent to all the pur- 
poses of self-defence. The militia refused compliance with 
this requisition, and the offi»cers publicly addressed the govern- 
or, stating at large their reasons for this refusal. " We are 
not of that class," say they, " who believe that our duties as ci- 
tizens or soldiers are circumscribed within the narrow limits 
of the town or state in which we reside; but that we are under 
a paramount obligation to our common country, to the great 
confederacy of States." " We conceive it our duty," they con- 
tinue. " to declare unequivocally to your excellency, that we 
shall not obey your excellency's order for returning; but shaH 
continue in the service of our country, until we are legally and 
honourably discharged. An invitation or order to desert the 
standard of our country will never be obeyed by us, although it 
proceeds from the governor and captain-general of Vermont.'* 
Adding, " We cannot perceive what other object your excel- 
lency could have in view than to embarrass the operations of 
the army, to excite mutiny and sedition among the soldiers, 
and to induce them to desert, that they might forfeit the wages 
to which they are entitled for their patriotic services." 

At this important crisis a very different stand was taken by 
the same governor. In his proclamation, dated September 19, 
1814, he declares, that the war has assumed an entirely differ- 
ent character, since its first commencement, and has become 
almost exclusively defensive, and is prosecuted by the enemy 
with a spirit, unexampled during pending negociations for 
peace, which leaves no prospect of safety but in a manly and 
united determination to meet invasion at every point, and expel 
the invader. That, as the conflict has become a common and 
not a party concern, the time has now arrived when all degrad- 
ing party distinctions and animosities, however we may have, 
differed respecting the policy of declaring, or the mode of pro- 
secuting the war, ought to be laid aside; that every heart may 
be stimulated, and every arm nerved, for the protection of our 
common country, our liberty, our altars, and our firesides; in 



j2 histoky of the wah. 

the defence of which we may, with an humble confidence, look 
to heaven for assistance and protection. He therefore earnest- 
ly^xhorts all the good people of Vermont, by that love of 
country, which so signally distinguished their fathers, in their 
glorious and successful struggle for independence, to unite 
both heart and hand, in defence of their common interest, and 
every thing dear to freemen. ' 

The British army having re-embarked on board the fleet in 
the Patuxent, admiral Cochrane moved down that river, and 
proceeded up the Chesapeake, and on the evening of the 10th 
of September appeared at the mouth of the Patapsco, about 
14 miles from the city of Baltimore. Anticipating the debark- 
ation of the troops, general Smith, who commanded at Balti- 
more, had ordered general Strieker to march, with a portion of 
his militia, towards North Point, near the mouth of the river, 
where it was expected the British would make a landing. His 
force consisted of 550 of the 5th regiment, under lieutenant- 
colonel Sterret; 620 of the 6th, under lieutenant-colonel Don- 
ald; 500 of the 27th under lieutenant-colonel Long; 450 of the 
39th, under lieutenant-solonel Fowler: 700 of the 51st, under 
lieutenant-colonel Amey; 150 riflemen, under captain Dyer; 
140 cavalry, under lieutenant-colonel Biays; and the Union Ar- 
tillery of 75 men, v/ith six four pounders, under captain Mont- 
gomery; making an aggregate of 3,185 efl'ective men. Major 
Randal, v/ith a light corps of riflemen and musquetry, taken 
from general Stansbury's brigade and the Pennsylvania volun- 
teers, was detached to the mouth of Bear Creek, with orders 
to co-operate with general Strieker, and to check any landing 
which the enemy might attempt in that quarter. 

The troops moved towards North Point, by the main road, 
on the 1 ith,'and at 3 o'clock, P. M. reached the meeting-house, 
near the head of Bear Creek, seven miles from the city. Here 
the brigade halted, with the exception of the cavalry, who were 
pushed forward to Gorsuch's farm three miles in advance, and 
the riflemen, who took post near the blacksmith's shop, two 
miles in advance of the encarrpment. At 7 o'clock, on the 
morning of the 12th, information was received from the advan- 
ced videttes, that the enemy v/ere debarking troops from and 
under cover of their gun-vessels, which lay off the blufl*of 
North Point, within the mouth of Patapsco river. The baggage 
%vas immediately ordered back under a strong guard, and gen- 
eral Strieker took a good position at the junction of the two 
roads leading from Baltimore to North Point, having his right 
flanked by Bear Creek, and his left by a mash. He here waited 
the approach of the enemy, having sent on an advanced corps. 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 1^3 

under the command of major Heath, of the 5th regiment. This 
advance was met by that of the enemy, and after some skir- 
mishing it returned to the line, the main body of the enemy 
being at a short distance in the rear of their advance. During 
this skirmishing, major-general Ross received a musket-ball 
through his arm into his breast, which proved fatal to him on 
his way to the water side for re-embarkation. The command 
of the enemy's forces then devolved on colonel Brook. Be- 
tween 2 and S o'clock, the enemy's whole force came up and 
commenced the battle by some discharges of rockets, which 
were succeeded by the cannon from both sides, and soon after, 
the action became general along the line. General Strieker 
gallantly maintained his ground against a great superiority of 
numbers during the space of an hour and twenty minutes, when 
the regiment on his left (the 51st) giving way, he was under 
the necessity of retiring to the ground in his rear, where he 
had stationed one regiment as a reserve. He here formed his 
brigade; but the enemy not thinking it advisable to pursue, he, 
in compliance with previous arrangements, fell back and took 
post on the left, a half m.ile in advance of the entrenchments, 
which had been thro vn up on the hills surrounding Baltimore 
About the time general Strieker had taken the ground just 
mentioned, he was joined by general Winder,, who had been 
stationed on the west side of the city, but was now ordered to 
march with general Douglas' brigade of Virginia militia, and 
the United States' dragoons, under captain Bird, and take post 
on the left of general Strieker. During these movements, the 
brigades of generals Stansbury and Foreman, the seamen and 
marines, under commodore Rodgers, the Pennsylvania volun 
teers, under colonels Cobean and Findley, the Baltimore ar- 
tillery, under colonel Harris, and the marine artillery, under 
captain Stiles, manned the trenches and batteries, and in this 
situation spent the night, all prepared to receive the enemy. 

Next morning, the British appeared in front of the entrench- 
ments, at the distance of two miles, on the Philadelphia road, 
from whence he had a full view of the position of the Ameri- 
cans. He manoeuvred during the morning towards his right, 
as if with the intention of making a circuitous march, and 
coming down on the Hartford or York roads. Generals Winder 
and Strieker were ordered to adapt their movements to those 
of the enemy, so as to baffle this supposed intention. The.y 
executed this order with great skill and judgment, by taking 
an advantageous position, stretching a&ross the country, when 
the enemy was likely to approach the quarter he seemed to 
threaten. This movement induced the British to concentrate 

II 2 



HISTOIIY Ui' ThK \VAi'{< 

t;ir forces in front, pushint^ his advance to within a iriic c ' 
the entrenchments, driving in the videttes, and showing i\: 
intention of attacking the position that evenin^^. Smith, there 
fore, immediately drew generals Winder and Strieker nearer 
to the right of the enemy, with the intention of falling on his 
right or rear should he attack the entrenchmeiits, or, if he de- 
clined it, of attacking him in the morning. 

As soon as the British troops had debarked at North Point, 
the iieet proceeded up the Patapsco, to bombard Fort M'Henry, 
which commands the entrance to the harbour of Baltimore. — 
On the 13th, about sunrise, the British commenced the attack 
from their bomb-vessels, at the distance of about two miles, 
when, finding that the shells reached the fort, they anchored, 
and kept up an incessant and well-directed bombardment. 

Fort M'Henry was commanded by lieutenant-colonel Arm- 
istead. The garrison consisted of one company of Ur.ited 
States' artillery, under captain Evans, and two companies of 
sea-fencibles, under captains Bunbury and Addison. Of these 
three companies, 35 m.en were unfortunately on the sick list 
and unfit for duty. In contemplation of the attack, Armistead 
had been furnished with two companies of volunteer artillery 
from the city of Baltimore, under captain Berry and lieuten- 
ant-commandant Pennington, a company of volunteer artille- 
rists, under judge NicholsoD, who had proffered their services, 
a detachment from comm.odore Barney's flotilla, under lieu- 
tenant Redman, and about six hundred infantry, under the 
Command of lieutenant-colonel Stewart and major Lane, con- 
sisting of detachments from the 12th, 1 4th, 36th, and 28Lh re- 
giments of United States' troops — the total amounting to 
about a thousand effective men. Two batteries to the right 
nf Fort M'Henry, upon the Patapsco, were manned, the one 
by lieutenant Newcombe, with a detachment of sailors, the 
other by lieutenant Webster, of the flotilla. The former was 
;alled Fort Covingtmi, the latter the City Battery. 

As soon as the British commenced the bombardment, the 
'mtteries at the fort were opened in return; butthe firing soon 
•eased on the part of the Americans, as it was found that all 
ib.e shot and shells fell considerably short of the British \'iES- 
sels. This was a most distressing circumstance to the troops 
n the fort, as it compelled them to remain inactive, though 
1 xposed to a constant and tremendous shower of shells. But 
though thus inactive, and v./ithout that security, w^hich, in more 
regular fortifications, is provided for such occasions, not a man 
shrunk from his post. 

About 2 o'clock, P. M. one of the twenty-four-pounders on 

c south-west bastion, under the immediate command of cap 



K1S*011Y OF THE WAR, lO^ 

tain Nicholson, was dismounted by a shell, the explosion from 
which killed his second lieutenant, and wounded several of 
his men; the bustle necessarily produced in removing the 
wounded, and remounting the gun, probably induced the Brit- 
ish to suspect that the garrison was in confusion, as three 
bojmb-ships were immediately advanced. But the fire, which 
now opened from the fort, soon compelled them to seek shel- 
ter, by again withdrawing out of the reach of the guns, when 
the garrison gave three cheers, and again ceased firing. 

The British continued throwing shells, with one or two 
slight intermissions, for twenty-five hours, viz. from sunrise 
of the 1 3th, till 7 o'clock, A. M. of the 14th of September. 
During the night, whilst the bombardment was the most se- 
vere, two or three rocket vessels and barges succeeded in 
passing Fort M'Henry, and getting up the Patapsco, but they 
were soon compelled to retire by the forts in that quarter. 
These forts also destroyed one of the barges, with all on board. 
It is supposed that the vessels that passed the fort contained 
picket men, with scaling ladders, for the purpose of storming. 

In the course of the night, admiral Cochrane held a com- 
munication with the commander of the land forces, and the 
enterprise being considered impracticable, it v/as mutually 
agreed to withdraw. Accordingly, while the bombardment 
Will continued, in order to distract the attention of the Ameri- 
cans, the retreat was commenced. Owing to the extreme 
darkness, and a continued rain, it was not discovered till day- 
light, when general Winder commenced a pursuit, with the 
Virginia brigade and the United States' dragoons; at the same 
time major Randal was dispatched with his light corps in pur- 
suit of the enemy's right, whilst the whole of the militia ca- 
valry v.'as put in motion for the same object. All the troops 
were, hov/ever, so worn out with continued watching, and with 
being under arms during three days and nights, exposed the 
greater part of the time to very inclement weather, that it was 
found impracticable to do any thing more than pick up a few 
stragglers. 

The naval forces, as was before observed, continued the 
bombardment till seven o'clock. About nine they retired to 
North Point, where the embarkation of the troops commenced 
that evening, and was completed next day at one o'clock. It 
would have been impossible, even had the American troops 
been in a condition to act offensively, to have cut off any part 
of the enemy's rear guard during the embarkation, as the 
point where it was effected was defended from approach by a 
line of defences extending from Jiack river to Humphreys' 



196* - HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

creek, on the Patapsco, which had been thrown up previous to 
the arrival of the British. 

The loss of the Americans, at the battle near North Point, 
was 24 killed, 139 wounded, and 50 prisoners. The loss olf 
the British in this action was 39 killed, and 251 wounded. 
The loss in the fort Avas only 4 killed and 24 wounded; no list 
of killed and wounded on board the squadron has been pub- 
lished. From the best calculations that could be made, from 
fifteen to eighteen hundred shells were thrown by the enemy. 
A few of these fell short. A large proportion burst over the 
fort, throwing their fragments around, and threatening destruc- 
tion. Many passed over, and about four hundred fell within 
the works. Two of the public buildings were materially in- 
jured, the others but slightly. 

The effect produced by the joyful intelligence of the failure 
of the attempt upon Baltimore, may be mere easily conceived 
than expressed, when it is considered that almost every large 
town being equally threatened with devastation, the case of 
Baltimore came home to every individual bosom. But one mo- 
ment before, the public dismay seemed to have reached its 
acme; and the most gloomy anticipations seemed about to be 
realized. 

While admiral Cochrane was threatening the country along 
the Chesapeake, by order of sir George Prevost, the latter was 
leading an army and navy into the United States, but holding 
very different language. Though he could direct the British 
forces in the south to lay waste and desolate, he was too fear- 
ful of the re-action of such barbarous orders to dare to utter 
them at the head of his own troops. Here his language was 
of the softest and most conciliatory nature. On entering the 
state of New-York, he " makes known to its peaceable and un- 
offending inhabitants, that they have no cause for alarm from 
this invasion of their country, for the safety of themselves and 
families, or for the security of their property. He explicitly 
assures them, that as long as they continue to demean them- 
selves peaceably, they shall be protected in the quiet posses- 
sion of their homes, and permitted freely to pursue their usual 
occupations. It is against the government of the United 
States, by whom this unjust and unprovoked war has been 
declared, and against those who support it, either openly 
or secretly, that the arms of his majesty are directed. The 
quiet and unoffending inhabitants, not found in arms, or other- 
wise not aiding in hostilities, shall meet with kind usage aud 
generous treatment; and all just complaints against any 
majesty's subjects, offering violence to them, to thei^* 1 ■.-. 



oi -■• 



HISTORY OF THE M AP.. 197 

or to their possessions, shall be immediately redressed." With 
these fair words, sir George Prevost led his army against 
Plattsburg, about the beginning of September, while the fleet 
proceeded on his left up the lake, in order to make a contem- 
poraneous attack on the Americans by land and water. 

Previous to this invasion, no military movements took place 
in this quarter, excepting an attack which was made on an 
American battery at the mouth of Otter Creek, on the 14th of 
May, by the British naval forces on the lake. In this affair the 
British were repulsed with loss. 

But during the months of July and August, the army from 
the Garonne, which had so greatly distinguislied itself under 
general Wellington, arrived in the St. Lawrence; and part of 
the troops being sent up to the Niagara, the remainder, con- 
sisting of about 14,000 men, were organized by sir George Pre- 
vost, agreeably to th& orders of the prince regent, for the pur- 
pose of undertaking an expedition into the state of New-York. 
There is good reason to suppose, that if this expedition had 
been successful, a powerful attempt would have followed from 
another quarter on the city of Nev/-York, in order, by seizing 
the line of the Hudson, completely to cut off the New England 
states. 

The British troops were concentrated on the frontiers of 
Lower Canada, and took possession of Chsimplain on the 3d of 
September, The best part of the American troops in this quar- 
ter had previously been formed into a division, which had march- 
ed towards the Niagara, under general Izard. General Ma- 
comb, as senior officer, had been left in command. But except- 
ing four companies of the 6th regiment, he had not an organi- 
zed battalion. The garrison was composed of convalescents 
and recruits of the new regiments, not exceeding 1500 effec- 
tive men for duty; all in the greatest confusion, as well as the 
ordnance and stores, and the works in no state of defence. 

Finding, from the proclamations of the enemy, and his im- 
pressment of thevvaggons and teams in his vicinity, that an at- 
tack on Plattsburg was determined on, every exertion was 
made to place the works in a state of defence; and, to create an 
emulation and zeal among the officers and men, they were di- 
vided into detachments, and placed near the several Forts; Ma- 
comb declaring in orders, that each detachment was the garri- 
son of its own work, and bound to defend it to the last extremity. 

As soon as the force of the enemy was ascertained, general 
Macomb called on general Mooers, of the New-York militia, 
and arranged with him plans for bringing forth the militia ea 
>masse. The inhabitants of Plattsburg fled with their families 



198 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

and effects, except a few men and some boys, who formed 
themselves mto a party, received rifles; and were exceedingly 
useful. 

By the 4th of the month general Mooers collected about se- 
ven hundred militia, and advanced seven miles on the Beck- 
man Town road, to watch the motions of the enemy, and to 
skirmish with him as he advanced; also to obstruct the roads 
with fallen trees, and to break up the bridges. On the lake 
road, at Dead Creek bridge, two hundred men had been posted 
under captain Sproul of the 1 3th regiment, with orders to ab- 
batis the woods, to place obstructions in the road, and to forti- 
fy himself; to this party were added two field-pieces. In ad- 
vance of this position, was lieutenant-colonel Appling, with 1 10 
riflemen, watching the movements of the enemy, and procuring 
intelligence. 

It was ascertained, that before day-light on the 6th, the ene- 
my would advance in two columns, on the two roads before 
mentioned, dividing at Sampson's, a little below Chazy village. 
The column on the Beckman Town road proceeded with great 
rapidity; the militia skirmished with his advanced parties, and, 
except a few brave men, fell back precipitately, in the greatest 
disorder, although the British troops did not deign to fire on 
them- except by their flankers and advanced patroles. The 
night previous major Wool had been ordered to advance with 
a detachment of 250 men to support the militia, and set them 
an example of firmness. Captain Leonard, of the light artille- 
ry, was also directed to proceed with two pieces, to be on the 
ground before day; but he did not make his appearance until 
8 o'clock, when the enemy had approached within tv/o miles of 
the village. Major Wool, v/ith his party, disputed the road 
•with great obstinacy, but the militia could not be prevailed on 
to stand, notwithstanding the exertions of their general and 
stafl" officers; although the fields were divided with strong stone 
walls, and they were told that the enemy could not possibly 
cut them off*. The state dragoons of New-York wear red coats, 
and they being on the heiglits to watch the enemy, gave con- 
stant alarm to the militia, who mistook them for the enemy, anti 
feared his getting in their rear. 

Finding the enemy's columns had penetrated within a mile 
of Plattsburg, general Macomb dispatched his aid-de-camp to 
bring off the detachment at Dead Creek, and to order lieuten- 
ant-colonel Appling to fall on the enemy's right flank. The 
colonel fortunately arrived just in time to save his retreat, and 
to fall in with the head of a column debouching from the woods. 
Here he poured in a destructive fire from his riflemen, and 



HtStOUY OF THE WAR. 199 

continued to annoy the column until he formed a junction with 
Major Wool. The field-pieces did considerable execution 
among the enemy's columns. So undaunted, however, was the 
enemy, that he never deployed in his whole march, always 
pressing on in column. This column, however, was much im- 
peded by obstructions thrown in the way, and by the removal 
of the bridge at Dead Creek; as it passed the creek and beach, 
the galleys kept up on it a lively and galling fire. 

The village of Plattsburg is situated on the north-west side 
of the small river Saranac, near where it falls into lake Cham- 
plahi. The American works were situated on the opposite side 
of the river. 

Every road was now full of troops crowding on all sides in 
upon Plattsburg. The field-pieces were therefore ordered to 
retire across the bridge, and form a battery for its protection, 
and to cover the retreat of the infantry, which was accordingly 
done, and the parties of Appling and Wool, as well as that of 
Sproul, retired alternately, keeping up a brisk fire until they 
got under cover of the works. The enemy*s light troops then 
took possession of the houses near the bridge, and kept up a 
constant firing from the windows and balconies, but a few hot 
shot from the American works, which put the houses in flames, 
soon obliged these sharp-shooters to retire. The whole day, 
until it was to late to see, the enemy's light troops endeavour- 
ed to drive the guards from the bridge, but they paid dearly - 
for their perseverance. An attempt was also made to cross the 
upper bridge, where the militia resolutely drove them back. — 
The troops being now all on the south side of the Saranac, the 
planks were taken off the bridges, and piled up in the form of 
breastworks to cover the parties intended to dispute the pas- 
sage, which afterwards enabled them to hold the bridges 
against very superior numbers. 

From the 7th to the 11th, the enemy was employed in get- 
ting on his battering train, and erecting his batteries and ap- 
proaches, and constantly skirmishing at the bridges and fords. 
By this time the militia of New-York and the volunteers of 
Vermont were pouring in from all quarters. They were all 
placed along the Saranac, to prevent the enemy's crossing the 
river, excepting a strong body sent in his rear to harrass him 
day and niglit, and keep him in continual alarm. The militia 
behaved with great spirit after the first day, and the volunteers 
of Vermont were exceedingly serviceable. The regular troops, 
notwithstanding the constant skirmishing, and repeated endea- 
vours of the enemy to cross the river, kept at their work day 
and night strengthening the defences, and evinced a determi- 
nation to hold out to the last extremity. 



200 HISTORY OP THE WAR. 

Meanwhile the British were streniiovfsly engaged in prcpa- 
ing the fleet, which was destined to co-operate with the land 
forces. It appeared in view at Plattsburgh early in the morn* 
ing of the 1 1th. This fleet consisted of the frigate Confiance, 
carrying 39 guns, 27 of which were twenty-four-poiinders; the 
brig Linnet, carrying 16 guns; the sloops Chub and Finch, each 
carrying 1 1 guns; and thirteen galleys, live of which carried 
two, and the remainder one gun each. The American force 
consisted of the Saratoga, carrying 26 guns, eight of which 
were long twenty-four-pounders; the Eagle, 20 guns; the Ti- 
conderoga 17; the Preble 7; and ten galleys, six of which car- 
ried two, the remainder one gun each. The British were su- 
perior, both in size and number of guns. 

At 8 in the morning, the American look-out-boat announced 
to commodore Macdonough, the conunander of the squadron, 
the approach of the enemy. He at this time lay at anchor in 
Plattsburg bay, calmly awaiting the approach of the British 
squadron, the fleet being moored in line, abreast of the works, 
with a division of five gun-boats on each flank. At 9, the Bri- 
tish fleet anchored in Une abreast the Americrtn squadron, at 
^bout 300 yards distance, the Confiance opposed to the Sara- 
toga, the Linnet to the Eagle, the British galleys and one of 
the sloops to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and the left division of 
the American galleys; the other sloops to the right division of 
the American galleys. 

In this situation the whole force on both sides became en- 
gaged, the Saratoga suffering much from the heavy fire of the 
Confiance, But the fire of the Saratoga was aho very destruc- 
tive to her. The Ticonderoga likewise gallantly sustained her 
full share of the action. At half past 10 o'clock the Eagle, 
not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable and an- 
chored in a more eligible position, between, the Saratoga and 
the Ticonderoga, where she very much' annoyed the enemy, but 
unfortunately left the Saratoga exposed to a galling fire from the 
enemy's brig. The guns on the starboard side of the Saratoga 
being nearly all dismounted, or not manageable, a stem anchor 
was let go, the bower-cable cut, and the ship winded with afresh 
broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrendered. 
A broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which sur- 
rendered in about fifteen minutes after. 

The sloops that were opposed to the Eagle had struck some 
time before and drifted down the line; the sloop which was 
with their galleys having struck also. Three of the enemy's 
galleys were sunk, the others pulled off*. The American flo- 
tilla wei'e about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2al 

V 

when all the vessels ^tere reported to the commodore as in 
a sinking- i'^^ie; it then became necessary to annul the signal 
to the galleys, and order their men to the puijips. The enemy's 
galleys thus got off in a shattered condition, for there was not> 
a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on; the 
lower rig-ging, being nearly all shot away, hung- down as though 
it had been just placed over the mast heads. 

The Saratoga had fifty-five round shot in her hull; the Con- 
fiance one hundred and five. The Saratoga was twice set on 
fire by hot shot from the Confiance. The enemy's shot must 
have principally passed just over the heads of the sailors, as 
there were not twenty whole hammocks in the nettings at the 
close of the action, which laste'd without intermission two hours 
and twenty minutes.* 

This naval engagement was in full view of both armies at 
Plattsburg. The killed on board the American squadron 
amounted to 52, the wounded to 58. The killed on board the 
captured vessels amounted to 84, including captain Downie, 
the commander of the squadron; the wounded amounted to 
1 10; the loss on board the British galleys has never been as- 
certained. The number of men in the American squadron 
was 820. the British were supposed to exceed 1000. 

The batteries on shore were opened on the American works 
at the same instant that the engagement commenced on the 
lake, and continued throwing bomb-shells, sharpnells, balls. 
and Congreve rockets, until sun-set, when the bombardment 
ceased, every battery of the British being silenced. Thi'ee 
efforts were m.ade to pass the river at the commencement of 
the cannonade and bombardment, with a view of assaulting the 
works, and an immense number of scaling ladders had 
hcen prepared for that purpose. One of these attempts was 
made at the village bridge, another at the upper bridge, and a 
third at a ford about three miles from the works. The two 
first were repulsed by the regulars; at the ford by the volun- 
teers and militia. Here the enemy suffered' severely in killed, 
woun<led, and prisoners; a considerable body having crossed 
the stream, all of whom were either killed, taken, or driven 
back. A whole company of the 76th regiment was here des- 
troyed, the^hree lieutenants and twenty-seven men prisoners. 



* ^ cock, the " bird ofivar,'* ivas in the Saratog-a, and re^ 
^leatedly crowed from the shrouds during the action. A si?nllar 
circumstance occurred in Fort JWHenyu iluri-ug- the bombard- 
ment. 



202 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

the captain and the rest killed. The woods at this place wtv^ 
very favourable to the ope rations 'of the militia. 

The further prosecution of the expedition having become 
impracticable by the capture of the fleet, an event totally un- 
looked-for, at dusk the enemy withdrew his artillery from the 
batteries, and raised the siege; and at nine, under the cover of 
the night, sent off in a great hurry all the baggage he could 
find transport for, and also his artillery. At two, the next 
morning, the whole army precipitately retreated, leaving be- 
hind their sick and wounded; the commander left a note with 
the surgeon, requesting for them the humane attention of gen- 
eral Macomb. 

Vast quantities of provisions were left behind and destroy- 
ed; also an immense quantity of b9mb-shclls, cannon-balls, 
grape-shot, ammunition, flints, &c. entrenching tools of all 
'sorts, and tents and m.arquees. A great deal was afterwards 
found concealed in the ponds and creeks, and buried in the 
ground, and a vast quantity was carried off by the inhabitants. 

Such was the precipitancy of the retreat of the British, that 
they arrived at Chazy, a distance of eight miles, before their 
flight was fliscovered. The light troops, volunteers, and mi- 
litia pursued immediately; and some of the mounted men 
made prisoners of a few of fhe rear guard. A continual fall 
of rain, and a violent storm, prevented further pursuit. Up- 
wards of 300 deserteng came in. 

The British officers of the army and navy who were killed, 
were buried with the honours of war. The humane treatment 
of the Americans to the wounded, and their generous and 
polite attention to the prisoners, were gratefully mentioned by 
captain Pring (who succeeded to the command of the British 
fleet on the fall of captain Downie)»in his official dispatch to 
the admiralty.* <* 

Thus were two formidable invasions, in which both the sea 



* The humane attention to tfteir firisoners^ for phich the 
f'ncricans have been so remarkable,^ has led to most singular 
onclusiuns in England. Lord Liver/iool said in parliament^ 
Chat " in many filaces a strong disposition had beqn shown by 
the American people to put themsel-ves under our protection^ 
and that their treatment of our officers led to any conclusion 
rather than to the belief that they entertain any ani?nosity 
against this cou7itry, or that they were ?20t fully persuaded that 
the war was a war of unprovoked aggresstoji on the part of 
their own government,** 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. -2t)i> 

and land forces of Great Britain co-operated, totally frustrated, 
nearly at the same moment, while another British squadron 
was added to the. trophies of the American navy. 

During the first years ofvthe war, the liritish affected to 
conciliate the New-England states, by exempting their har- 
bours from blockade, by refraining from the predatory incur- 
sions with which they teazed the southern coasts, and in one 
case, even proclaiming that a system of perfect neutrality ws 
to be observed towards them by the sea and land forces of 
Great Britain. A different system was adopted this summer. 
The ports of New-England were included in the sweeping sys- 
tem of blockading the whole of the American coast, repeated 
incursions were made for the destruction of private property, 
and finally a large portion of the District of Maine was ijivaded 
and captured by a powerful force by land and water. 

One of the most remarkable attacks, which occurred in the 
course of the campaign, was that made by Sir Thomas H^rdy, 
upon Stonington, a small village in Connecticut, about 20 miles 
east from New-London. On the 9th of August, commodore 
Hardy appeared off the village with one 74, one frigate, one 
bomb-ship, and two gun-brigs, and immediately summoned the 
place to surrender. In the course of the day> a number of 
flags passed to and from the place, the conditions required 
were, that the family of Mr. Stewart, late consul at Ncv/ Lon- 
don, should be immediately sent off to jJie squadron; that the , 
two guns in the battery should be removed; and that no torpe- 
does should be fitted from, or suffered to be in, the h^rb>3ur 
The terms being sent over to New London to general Cusuing, 
the commanding officer of this district, he replied, iliat the 
request for the removal of Mr, Stewart's family would h'. 
forwarded to Washington;/with the others he would not ccui- 

In the evening, the British commenced the att?x.; vaii 
rockets from one of the brigs: a great nur.iber of rockets were 
thrown, with little or no effect. The brig then biiuled up 
within a short distance of th<e battery, and kept up a ^.es 
and well-directed fire from ^uns of a very large calibre, v- : 
was returned by two eighteen-pounders in the little ( 
till their ammunition was expended. During this tim. 
brig had grounded. A supply of ammunition having an iv 
from New London, the fire from the battery was re-coa.- 
menced, and with such effect, that the brig slipped her cables, 
and towed off, out of reach of the eighteen-pounders, she hav- 
ing previously swung clear of tl^e ground. 

On the lOth, a number of flags passed; the commodore still 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

-Gting on his former terms. On the following morning, 
the last flag passed, with Hardy's ultimatum, at 1 1 o' clocfe^ 
viz.: that Mrs. Stewart should be put on board by two o'clock 
P. M. or he would destroy the place. He, however, did not 
commence till 3 o'clock, a^ which time the bomb-ship com- 
menced from two mortars, one a 15 inch and the other 13. 
The bombardment continued from this time till half past 8 in 
the evening, without intermission; the place was several times 
on fire, and as often put out by the soldiers and inhabitants. 

At day-light on the 12th5 the attack was re-commenced from 
the bomb-ship, seventy-four, and frigate, -and continued, with 
little intermission, tiil half past 9, A. M. when the tide be- 
gan to ebb, and the ships thought proper to haul off. In the 
afternoon, they set sail, and left the sound by dark. 

As commodore Hardy has never favoured the world with 
his official atcount of this valiant and famous affair, we arc> 
enfirely at a loss to conjecture what could have been his mo- 
tive. One horse, and one ^oo^e, constituted the whole list of 
kiUed on shore; a lieutenant and three privates, of the militia,, 
were slightly wounded by the bursting of a shell, and two men 
in the battery by a piece going off at half charge. The town 
was but little damaged, considering the tremendous cannonade 
and bornbardment it sustained: one half of the houses were 
untouched, and not one entirely demolished, although every 
ship threw its shot completely over the point. Nearly 300 
'.shells and fire-carcasses were thrown into the village, making, 
it was estimated, 50 tons of metal. Three or four tons of shot, 
carcasses, and bombs were collected by the inhabitants. — After 
the bombardment, it v^as learnt from good authority, that the 
British had a number killed, and several badly wounded, by 
Ihe fire from the two eighteen-poiinders on shore. 

A few weeks after the declaration of war, sir J. C. Sher- 
bi oke, governor of Nova Scotia, &c. issued his proclamation, 
ordering and directing all his majesty's subjects, under his 
goveniment, to abstain from molesting the inhabitaiits living 
on the shores of the United States, contiguous to Nova Scotia 
and New Brunswick; and on no account to molest the goods 
and unarmed coasting vessels, belonging to defenceless inhabi-- 
tants on the frontiers, so long as they shall abstain on their 
part from any act of hostility and molestation towards the in- 
iiabitants of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; on the ground 
that predatory warfare, carried on against defenceless inhabi- 
tants, could answer no good purpose. 

Another proclamation of the same date was issued by gov- 
ernor Sherbroke and admiral Sawyer, purporting, that having 



KtbTORY OF THE W/JEt ' 205 

understood ttiat the inhabitants of Eastport had miiiifested a 
disposition to avoid hostilities with the subjects oi' Great Bri- 
tain, it is made known to them and all concerned, that from a 
wish to discourage, as far as possible, every species of depre- 
datory warfare, which can only have a tendency to distress pri- 
vate individuals; they have respectively issued orders to the 
naval and land forces, to respect the persons and property of the 
inhabitants of Eastport, so long as they shall carry on their 
usual and accustomed trade and intercourse with any part of 
these provinces, and reciprocally abstain from acts of hostility. 
Adding, that this system ofpcrfect neutrality towards Eastport, 
should not be tieparted from without due and timely notice 
being previously given to the inhabitants. 

Though some expressions in these proclamations appear a< 
if they were intended as a mere cover for smuggling transac-- 
tions, yet the humanity and good sense displayed in the ac- 
knowledgement," that no good could result from depredatory 
warfare, which can only have a tendency to distress private in- 
dividuals," is worthy of high commendation, and it is sincerely 
to be regretted that the same principle had not been univer- 
sally acted on. It would have been worthy of two great and 
magnanimous nations to have waged war, " in a manner most 
consonant to the principles of humanity, and to those friendly 
relations, which jt was desirable to preserve between the two 
nations, after the restoration of peace.** 

Whether " due and timely notice was previously given" to 
the inhabitants of Eastport of the departure from Jihis system 
of perfect neutrality, we have no means of ascertaining. But 
about two years after the date of this proclamation, f/w/z/ 11, 
,1814J Jhe- island on which it stands was captured by a British 
squadron, and formally taken possession of in the name of his 
Britannic majesty. 

Eastport is situated on Moose Island, in Passamaquoddy baj% 
Although-this island has been held by the Americans since the 
revoluti<^nary war, the right of its sovereignty has never been 
settled, it being considered both by the Americans and British 
as within their boundary line. As soon as it was taken posses*- 
4 sion of by the British, the inhabitants were ordered to appear 
. and declare their intention, whether they would take the oath 
of allegiance to his Britannic majesty; and were further noti- 
fied, that all persons not disposed to take this oaili, would be 
required to depart from the island in the course of seven days, 
unless special p'ermission was granted to them to remain for a 
longer period. But a communication was also sent to the gov- 
ernment of Massachusetts, stating, that the object of the Brl- 

s 2 



wut> illSTOHY OF THE WAR. 

tish government was to obtain possession of the islands o? 
Passamaquockly bay, in consequence of their being. considered 
within their boundary line; that they had no intention of carry- 
ing on offensive operations against the people residing on the 
continent, unless their concluct should oblige them to resort to 
the measure; and in the event of their remaining quiet, they 
should not be disturbed either in their property or persons, 

This resolution, however, of avoiding hostile operations 
against the inhabitants of the continent, was adhered to for a 
much shorter period than the " system of perfect neutrality,*' 
promised to be observed towards the inhabitants of Eastport. 
For the British ministry, elevated by the success of their arms 
in Europe, had come to the resolution to demand large and 
important cessions of territory from the United States. One 
of those cessions included that part of the District of Maine 
which lies eastward of Penobscot river, which they considered 
desirable on account of its securing to them a direct commu- 
Dication between Halifax and Quebec. Instructions were ac- 
cordingly sent out to lieutenant general Sherbroke, governor of 
Nova Scotia, Sec. to effect the conquest of that part of Maine, 
of which it was intended to demand the cessioii. Towards the 
end of August an expedition sailed from Halifax to accomplish 
the object in view. The troops were commanded by governor 
Sherbroke, the naval forces by rear admiral Griffith. 

It was governor Sherbroke's original intention first to have 
taken possession of Machias, and then proceed to Castine, on 
the Penobscot, but on the 30th of August the fleet fell in with 
tlie Rifleman sloop of war, from which information was obtain- 
ed that the United States' frigate Adams had amved in the 
Penobscot; and that, from the apprehensions of being attacked 
by British cruizers, if she remained at the entrance of the ri- 
ver, she had run up as high as Hampden, where her guns had 
been landed, and mounted on shore for her protection. 

This information determined governor Sherbroke to proceed 
first to the Penobscot, in order to arrive there before tV.e Ame- 
ricans had time to strengthen themselves. The fleet arrived 
off Castine on the ist of Septentber. The small garrison in the 
fort not being able to resist the overwhelming force of the Bri- 
tish, discharged their ^guns, blew up the fort, and retired. The 
enemy then took possession without opposition. 

The following day a considerable force was despatched up 
the river tjo Hampden, in order to capture or destroy the 
Adams. Captain Morris, the commander, had' received intel- 
iigence the day before of the arrival of the expedition off Cas- 
tincj wjiiclx was iqnmediately forwarded to brigadier ^general 



HISTORY (XF THE WA Rr iO't 

Blake, of the militia, with a request that he would direct such 
force as could be collected to repair immediately to Hampden. 
As the ship was prepared for heaving down, and in no situation 
to receive her arwiament, the attention of the seamen was im- 
mediately directed to the occupation of such positions on shore 
4s' would best enable them to protect her. By great and unre- 
mitted exertions, and the prompt assistance of all the inhabi- 
^tants in the immediate vicinity, during the 1st and 2d, nine 
pieces were transported to a commanding eminence.near the 
ship, one to the place selected by general Blake for'his line 
of battle, fourteen upon a wharf commanding the river below, 
and one on a point covering the communication between the 
hill and wharf batteries — temporary platforms of loose plank 
were laid, and such other arrangements made as would ena- 
ble them to dispute the passage of a naval force. Want of 
time prevented Morris from improving all the advantages of 
his position, and he was compelled to leave his rear and flanks 
lo the defence of the militia, in case of attack by land troops. 

Favoured by a fresh breeze, the British had advanced to ' 
within three miles of the Adams at sun-set on the 2d, with the 
Sylph mounting 22, and Peruvian J 8 guns, and one transport, 
one tender, and len barges, manned with seamen from the 
Bulwark and Dragon, under the command of commodore Bar- 
rie. Troops were landed, under the command of colonel John, 
opposite their shipping, without any opposition, their num- 
bers unknown, but supposed to be about 350. To oppose these 
troops, about 370 militia were then collected, assisted by lieu- 
tenant Lewis, of the United States artillery, who, by a forced 
march, had arrived from Castine, with his detachment of 28 
men. 

Many 'of the militia were without arms, and most of them 
without any ammunition, and, as the seamen were barely suffi- 
cient to man the batteries, the ship's muskets were distribut- 
ed among the militia; the sick were sent across the creel?, with 
orders for such as were able, to secure themselves in the woods, 
in case of defeat. These arrangements were not concluded 
until late on the evening of the 2d. 

During the night, the militia were reinforced by three com- 
panies. The British were also landed, and at five next morn- 
ing, marched towards Hampden, in front of which the militia 
were advantageously posted. But they were not able to with- 
stand the attack of the British regulars; they soon gave way 
and fled in confusion. Captain Morris and his sailors had now 
no alternative but precipitate retreat or captivity; their reai" 
and flanks belRg entirely exposed, while they wire destitute 



-JOS HISTORY Oi' THE WAR. 

of any otlier defence on that side than their pikes and cutlasses. 
Lieutenant Wadsworth was therefore ordered to spike the 
guns, and retire across the bridge, which was done in perfect 
order, the marines under lieutenant Watson Covering the rear. 
The remainder of Morris' force was at the same time order- 
ed to spike the guns at the lower battery, fire the ship, and 
then join their companions, across the creek. 

Before these last orders were fu]ly executed, the enemy ap- 
peared on the hill from which the militia had retired, and the 
seamen were consequently exposed to their lire for a short 
time while completing them. When they commenced their 
retreat, it was found to be immpoSsible to gain the bridge; but 
they succeeded in fording the creek, and rejoinin.g their com- 
panions, without receiving the sliglitest injury from the fire of 
the enemy. 

The loss of the militia was estimated by the British at 30 or 
40 killed, wounded, and missing, while their loss was only one 
killed, 8 wounded, and I missing. Captain Morris' loss was 
only a seaman and a marine made prisoner. He estimates the 
loss of the naval force opposed to him at 8 or 10 killed, and 
from«i40 to 50 wounded, principally by the eighteen-pounder 
under charge of lieutenant Lewis, of the United States artil- 
lery. 

Machias being now the only post remaining between the 
Penobscot and Passamaquoddy bay, a brigade was sent against 
it from^ Castine. It was taken without resistance, and coloilel 
Pilkington, the British commander, was making arrangements 
to proceed into the interior of the country, when he received 
a'letter from brigadier-general Brewer, commanding the dis- 
trict, engaging that the militia within the co^unty of Washing- 
ton should not bear arms, or in any way serve against his Bri- 
tannic majesty during the war. A similar offer having been 
made by the civil officers and principal citizens of the county, 
a cessation of arms was agreed upon. Thus was this large 
district of country from the Penobscot eastward, taken posses- 
sion of almost without resistance. 

Having now reviewed the most important transactions of 
the campaign on our maritime frontier, we will next direct our 
attention to the upper lakes in the north-west. After the 
capture of the British fleet on lake Euie, in 1813,.an expedi- 
tion against the important post of Michillimackinac had been 
contemplated; but the lateness of the season prevented its 
being carried into effect. Preparations were therefore made 
the following summer, and an expedition sailed from Detroit 
against the fort on the 3d of July, 1814; the troops under the 



JilSTORY or THE WAR^ 209' 

command of colonel Croghan, the naval forces under captain 
Sinclair. The difficulties encountered on the flats of lake St. 
Clair, where there was only eight feet water, and the rapid 
current of the river, prevented the squadron from reaching 
lake Huron till the 12th. Thence the squadron shaped its 
course for Matchadash bay, and used every possible effort to 
gain it, but without effect. Not being able to find a pilot for 
that unfrequented part of the lake, and finding it filled with 
islands and sunken rocks, wWch must inevitably have proved 
the destruction of the fleet had they persisted, it being impos- 
sible to avoid them on account of the impenetrable fog with 
which the lake is almost continually covered; and finding the 
army already growing short of provisions, it was agreed be- 
tween colonel Croghan and the commodore to push for the 
island of St. Joseph's, near the head of the lake, where the 
British had a^ small establishment, and Ifere they arrived oft 
the 20th. The fort being found deserted was destroyed. 

Whilst the squadron remained wind-bound at St. Joseph's, 
a: detachment of infantry and artillery, under major Holmes, 
^vas dispatched in the launches, under the command of lieu- 
Jienant Turner, to St. Mary's, to break up the establishm'^nt at 
that place, and capture a schooner M'hich lay there waiting for 
a cargo of flour for the North-West company's establishments 
6n lake Superior, which had fallen into the hands of the Ame- 
rican squadron by the capture of the schooner Minx, on its 
way from Michillimackinac to St. Mary's. The establish- 
ment, against which this expedition was directed, is a factory 
of the Montreal company, situated at the foot of the falls of 
St. Mary, the stream by which lake Superior discharges its 
waters into lake Huron. These falls are surmounted by a 
eanal, by which goods are passed in boats from the vessels 
which navigate one lake to those which traverse the other. 

The launches, under lieutenant Turner, were rowed night 
and day; but the distance being 60 miles, against a strong cur- 
rent, information of their approach reached the enemy about 
two hours before their arrival, carried by Indians in their light 
canoes. No resistance was made at the fort, but the British 
and Indians made their escape, carrying with them all the 
light valuable articles, such as peltry, clothes, &cc. Turner, 
with his sailors and a few of the infantry, instantly proceeded 
to the head of the rapids, where the enemy, finding he could 
not get off with the vessel Turner was in quest of, set fire to 
her in several places and scuttled her. Turner, however, suc- 
ceeded in boarding her, and by considerable exertions extin- 
guished the flames, and secured her from sinking. But every 



210 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

effort failed to get her through the falls in safety. She bilged 
on her passage, and being immediately run on shore, -was 
burnt. A part of the public property was brought away, and 
the remainder destroyed. All private property was res- 
pected. 

On the return of the launches to St. Joseph's, the squadron 
proceeded to Michillimackinac, where they arrived on the 
26th. This place is, by nature, a second Gibraltar, being a 
high rock, inaccessible on every side, except the west: from 
the landing to the heights is nearly two miles,^ through avery 
thick wood. Finding that the British had strongly fortified 
the height overlooking the old fort, Croghan at once despaired 
of being able, with his small forces to carry the place by storm. 
He therefore determined to land and establish himself on 
some favourable position, whence he would be enabled to an- 
noy the enemy by* gradual and slow approaches, under cover 
of his artillery, of which he was superior to the enemy th point 
of metal. He was also induced.to. adopt this step by the supr 
position, that it would either induce the enemy to attack him 
in his strong holds, or force the Indians and Canadians, the 
enemy's most efficient, and only disposable force, off the island, 
as they would be very unwilling to remain aftejf a permanent 
footing should be taken. 

Unfavourable weather prevented the landing of the troops 
till the 4th of August, when the whole force was disembarked 
on the west end of the island, under cover of the guns of the 
shipping. The line being quickly formed, advanced towards 
a field, which had been recommended as a suitable place for 
a camp, by persons \yho had lived several years on the island. 
Hardly had the troops arrived at the edge of the field, before 
intelligence was conveyed to colonel Croghan that the enemy 
was a short distance ahead, and in a few seconds a fire of shot 
and shells opened on the Americans, fropi a battery of four 
pieces. 

The enemy's position^ was well selected; his line reached 
along the edge of the woods, at the farther extremity of the 
field, and was covejped by a temporary breastwork. On re*, 
connoitering the enemy, Croghan determined to change his 
position, which was now two lines, the militia forming the 
front. He accordingly ordered the battalion of regulars un- 
der major Holmes, to advance to the right of the militia, thus 
to outflank the enemy, and by a vigorous Effort gain his rear. 
But before this movement could be executed, a fire was 
opened by some Indians posted in a thick wood near the 
.'\merican right, which proved fatal to major Holmes, and 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 211 

severely wounded captain Desha, the next officer in rank. This 
unlucky fire, by depriving the battalion of the services of its 
most valuable officers, ihrew that part of the line into confu- 
sion, from which the best exertions of the officers were not able 
to recover it. 

Finding it impossible to gain the enemy's left,owing to the 
impenetrable thickness of the woods, a charge was ordered to 
be made by the regulars immediately against the front. This 
charge, though made in some confusion, served to drive the 
enemy back in the woods, whence an annoying fire was kept up 
by the Indians. Lieutenant Morgan was now ordered up with 
a light piece to assist the left, which, at this time, was particu- 
larly galled; its* fire soon forced the enemy to retire to a great- 
er distance. 

The position contemplated for the camp being now occupied, 
was found to be by no means tenable, fropl being interspersed 
with thickets, and every Way intersected by ravines. Croghan 
determined, therefore, no longer to expose his force to the fire 
of an enemy deriving every advantage which could be obtained 
from numbers and a knowledge of the posi'tion, and therefore 
ordered a retreat towards the shipping, which was immediately 
effected. 

The loss of the Americans in this affair was 1 3 killed, 5 1 
wounded, and 2 missing. The loss of the Rpitish has not been 
ascertained. ' - - ' 

Michillimackinac being thus found impregnable by assault, 
measures were adopted lor starving it into submission, by cut- 
ting off its supplies. The whole of the troops, except three 
companies, were therefore dispatched in two of the vessels, 
to join general Brown on the Niagara, and the rest of the 
squadron directed their course to the east side of the lake,, in 
order to break up any of the establishments of the enemy in 
that quarter. The only practicable lines of communication 
with the lower country, while the Americans were masters of 
lake Erie, was ^ith Montreal by Outawas, or Grand river, 
which is connected by means of a portage or carrying-place, 
with lake Nipissing, which latter empties itself into lake Hu- 
ron by means of French river; or with York, by means of lake 
Simcoe and Nautauwasaga river. The first of tliese communis 
cations was learnt to be impracticable during the present sea- 
son, on account of the m^j-shy state of the portages. The 
squadron therefore proceeded to the mouth of the Nautauwa- 
, saga, where it arrived on the 13th of August, and the troops 
were immediately disembarked on the peninsula fo!*rned by the 
river and lake, for the purpose of fixing a catop. 



212 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

On reconnoitering this position, a schooner, the only one 
possessed by the British in this quarter, was discovered in 
the river, a few hundred yards above, under cover of a block- 
house erected on a commanding situatio^l on the opposite 
shore. On the following morning, a fire was opened by the 
shipping on the block-house for a few minutes, bat with little 
effect, owing to a thin wood intervening to obscure the view. 
Two howitzers, however, being landed, they commenced 
throwing shells; and in a few minutes one of the shells burst 
in the block-house, which shortly after blew up his magazine, 
allowing the enemy barely time to make his escape. The ex- 
plosion set fire to a train which had been laid for the destruc- 
tion of the vessel, and in an instant she was in flames. The 
necessary preparations had been made by commodore Sinclair 
for getting on board of her; but frequent and heavy explosions 
below deck made it too great a risk to attempt saving her. — 
She was, therefore, with her cargo, entirely consumed. 

Colonel Croghan not thinking it advisable to fortify and gar- 
rison Nautauwasaga, the communication from York being so 
short and convenient, that any force left there might easily be 
cut off in the winter, the Scorpion and Tigress were left to 
blockade it closely, until the season should become too boister- 
ous for boat transportation, and the remainder of the squadron 
returned to Detroit. But this blockade, which had it been 
properly enforced, would probably soon have made a bloodless 
conquest of Michillimackinac, was soon put an end to by the 
capture of both the schooners.' The Tigress was carried by 
boarding from the enemy's boats on the night of the 3d of Sep- 
tember, and the Scoi;pion was surprised and taken by the Ti- 
gress, on the 6th, at the dawn of day. And thus, by the negli- 
gence of the officers, was the capture of Michilimackinac 
completely frustrated for this season. 

The forces employed in the war with the Creek Indians, a 
part of whose operations has already been detailed in the for- 
mer part of this volume, were the Tennessee militia, under ma- 
jor-general Jackson, whose head-quarters were at Fort Stroth- 
er, upon the Coosee river; the Georgia militia, under brigadier- 
general Floyd, whose operations were directed from the Cha- 
tahouchie; and a body of volunteers, in the southern part of the 
country of the Creeks, under the command of brigadier-gene- 
ral Claiborne. The settlements of the hostile Creeks were 
principally on and between the Tallapoosee and Coosee rivers. 
Here stood the towns of Tallushatches, Tailedega, and Hilli- 
bee, which gave their names to the battles so called, which 
have already been noticed. The town of Autossee stood on 
the left bank of the TiiUapoosee, 



HISTORY or THE WAR. 21o 

Notwithstanding the decisive victories that have been ob- 
tainecl by the American troops, and the heavy losses of the In- 
dians, and the destruction of their principal towns, this brave 
people were still unsubdued. General Cfaiborne, therefore, 
marched a detachment from Fort Claiborne, on the 13th q^ 
December, 1813, with a view to the further destruction of 
their towns. Fort Claiborne is situated on the Alibama river, 
at no great distance above where, by its junction with the Tom- 
bigbee, it forms the Mobile river. The object in view was a 

town, called by the Creeks, Eccanachaca, or Holy Ground. 

This place, Claiborne was informed, was occupied by a large 
body of the enemy, under the command of Weatherford, a half- 
bred chief, who commanded the Indians that commenced the 
jyar by the destruction of the garrison at Fort Minis. 

When about 30 miles from the town, a stockade was erected 
for the security of the sick, and the heavy baggage, and on the 
morning of the 22d the troops resumed their fine of march. 
Their course lay chiefly through woods, without a tract to 
guide them. On the morning of the 23d, the disposition for 
the attack was made. The troops advanced in three columns, 
S^^. small body acting as a corps de reserve. About noon the 
right column came in view of the town, and was immediately 
vigorously attacked by the enemy, who had been apprised of 
their approach, and had chosen their field of action. Before 
the centre or the left could come generally into action, the ene- 
my were repulsed, and flying in all directions, many of them 
casting away their arms. 

Thirty of the Creeks were killed in tliis rencontre, and, judg- 
ing from appearances, many were wounded. The loss on the 
part of the Americans was one killed and six wounded. 

A pursuit was immediately ordered; but, from the nature of 
the country, nothing was effected. The town was nearly sur- 
-rounded by swamps and deep ravines, which' rendered the ap- 
proach of the troops difficult, while it facilitated the escape of 
the Indians. In the town was found a large quantity of provi- 
sions, and immense property of various kinds, which the ene- 
my, flying precipitately, were obliged to leave behind. All 
were destroyed, together with the village, consisting of about 
200 houses. The Indians had barely time to remove their wo- 
men and children across the Alibama, which runs near where 
the town stood. The town had beeii built since the com- 
mencement of hostilities, and was established as a place of se- 
curity for the inhabitants of several villages. 

In the house of Weatherfopd, the commander, was found a 
letter from the Spanish governor of Pensacola to the leader of 

T 



214 HISTORY OF THE WAU. 

the Creeks, stating, that he had presented their reqij^bt of 
arms and munitions to the captain-general in Havanna, but had 
as yet received no answer. He was in hopes, however, he 
stated, of receiving them; and as soon as that took place, they 
should be informed. 

The following day was occupied by the troops in destroying 
a town consisting of 60 houses, eight miles higher up the 
river, and in taking and destroying the boats of the enemy. — 
At this place three Indians of some distinction were killed. 

The term of service of-the volunteers having now generally 
expired, they marched to Fort Stoddart, in order to be paid 
off. 

Soon after the battle of Talledega, general Jackson's army 
had*been almost entirely broken up by the expiration of the 
time of the militia, but on the 14th of January, he was joined 
at Fort Strother by about 800 new-raised volunteers from Ten- 
nessee, making his whole force, exclusive of Indians, 930. 
The term of service of the volunteers being short, and the 
men full of ardour to meet the enemy, he determined immedi- 
ately to employ them in active service; and to this he was par- 
ticularly induced by the information, that the Indians were con- 
centrating with the view of attacking Fort Armstrong, a posi- 
tion about 50 miles above Fort Strother, on the same river, 
and also by his desire to make a diversion in favour of general 
Floyd, who was about making a movement to the Tailapoosee 
river, near its junction with the Coosee. 

The volunteers therefore were marched across the river the 

r day after their arrival, and on the next day, Jackson followed 

"-\vith the remainder of his force, consisting of the artillery com- 

■ pany with one six-pounder, one company of infantry of 48 men, 

two companies of spies, of about 30 men each, and a company 

of volunteer officers, headed by general Coffee, who had been 

abandoned by his men, under some misapprehension as to theif 

term of service, and who still remained in the field waiting the 

orders of the government. 

On the 17th, the troops took up the line of march, and on 
the night of the I8th encampe'd at Talledega Fort, where they 
were joined by between 200 and 300 friendly Indians; 65 of 
whom were Cherokees, the remainder Creeks. On the 20th, 
ihcy encamped at Enotachopco, a small Hillibec village, about 
12 miles from Emuckfau. Here Jixkson began ta perceive 
very plainly how little knowledge the spies had of the coun- 
try,' of the situation of the enemy, or of the distance the army 
was from them. The hisubordination of the new troops, and 
the want of skill in most of their officers, a-lso became more 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 215 

and more apparent. But their ardour to meet the enemy was 
^ot diminished; and Jackson had a sure reliance upon the 
guards, and the company of old volunteer officers, and upon 
the spies, in all about 125. 

On the morning of the 21st, the troops marched from Eno- 
tachopco, as direcc^as possible for the head of the Tallapoosee, 
and about 2 o'clock, P. M. the spies having discovered two of 
the enemy, endeavoured to overtake them, but failed. In the 
evening a large trail was perceived, which led to a new road, 
much beaten and lately travelled. Knowing that he must have 
arrived within the neighbourhood of a strong force, and it be- 
ing late in the day, Jackson determined to^encamp, and recon- 
noitre the country in the night. He accordingly chose the 
best scite the country would admit, eccamped in a hollow 
square, sent out spies and pickets, doubled the centinels, and 
made the necessary arrangements before dark for a night at- 
tack- About, 10 o'clock at night one of the pickets fired at 
three of the enemy, and killed one, but he was not found until 
the next day. At 1 1, the spies returned with the information, 
that there was a large encampment of Indians at the distance 
of about three miles, who, from their whooping and dancing, 
seemed to be apprized of the approach of the troops. One of 
these spies, an Indian in whom Jackson had great confidence, 
assured him that they were carrying off their women and chil- 
dren, and that their warriors would either niake their escape 
or attack him before day. Being prepared at all points, no- 
thing remained to be done but to await their approach, if they 
meditated an attack, or to be ready, if tliev did not, to pursue 
and attack them at day-light. 

While the troops were in this state of readiness, the enemy, 
about 6 o'clock in the morning, commenced a vigorous attack 
on the left flank, which was as vigorously met; the action con- 
tinued to rage on that flank, and on the left of the rear, for 
about half an hour. So ^soon as it became light enough to 
pursue, the left wing, having sustained the heat of the action, 
and being somewhat weakened, was reinforced by a company 
of infantry, and v^s ordered and led on to the charge by gen- 
eral Coffee, who was well supported by all the officers and 
privates-^ho composed that line. The enemy was completely 
routed at every point, and the friendly Indians joining in the 
pursuit, they were chased about two miles with considerable 
slaughter. 

The chase being over, general Coffee was detached with 
400 men and all the Indian force to burn the encampment; 
but with orders, if it was fortified, not to attack it, until the 



216 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

artillery could be sent forward to reduce it. On viewing the 
encampment and its strength, the general thought it most pru- 
dent to return, and guard the artillery thither. The wisdom 
of this step was soon discovered — in half an hour after his 
return to camp, a considerable force of the enemy made its 
appearance on Jackson's right flank, and commenced a brisk 
fire on a party of men, who had been on picket guard the night 
before, and were then in search of the Indians they had fired 
Viix>n. General Coffee immediately requested 200 men to 
turn their left flank, which were accordingly ordered; but, 
through some mistake, not more than 54 followed him, among 
whom were the old volunteer officers. With these, however, 
he immediately commenced an attack on the left flank of the 
enemy, and Jackson ordered 200 of the friendly Indians to fall 
in upon their right flank, and co-operate with general Coffee, 
This order was promptly obeyed, and what was expected was 
realized. The enemy had intended the attack on the right as 
a feint, and, expecting to direct all Jackson's attention thither, 
meant to attack him again, and with their main force, on the 
left flank, which they had hoped to fitid weakened and in disor- 
der. But they were disappointed; for Jackson had ordered 
the left flank to remain firm to its place, and the moment the 
alarm gun was heard in that quarter, he repaired thither, and 
ordered captain Ferrill, part of the reserve, to support it. The 
whole line met the approach of the enemy with astonishing 
intrepidity, and having given a few fires, they forthwith charged 
with great vigour. The effect was immediate and inevitable. 
The enemy fled with precipitation, and were pursued to a con- 
siderable distance, by the left flank and the friendly Indiansj 
.. with a galling and destructive fire. 

i; In the mean time general Coffee was contending with a su- 

f perior force of the enemy. The Indians who had been order- 

I ed to his support, and who had set out for this purpose, hear- 

I ing the firing on the left, had retarned to that quarter, and 

\ when the enemy were routed there, entered into the chase. 

That being noW over, 100 of them were sent to the relief of 

Coffee, and as soon as they reached him, the charge was made 

und the enemy routed: they were pursued about three miles. 

and 45 of them slain, who wert2 found. General Coffee was 

wounded in the body, and his aid-de-camp, A. Donaldson, 

killed, together with three others. 

The camp was now fortified, in order that the troops might 
be the better prepared to repel any attack which might be 
made the following night, and next morning the troops set 
out on their return to Fort Strother, general Jackson not 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2 IT 

deeming it prudent to proceed farther, on account of the scar- 
city of supplies, tlie number of his wounded, and the probabili- 
ty of the Indians receiving reinforcements from below. The 
retreat commenced at 10 o'clock on the 23d, and the troops 
were fortunate enough to reach Enotachopco before night, 
having passed a dangerous defile without interruption. The 
camp was again fortified. Having another defilo* to pass in 
the morning, across a deep creek, and between two hills, which 
Jackson had viewed with attention, as he passed on, and where 
he expected he might be attacked, he determined to pass it' at 
another point, and gave directions to the t^uidc and fatigue- 
men accordingly. The general's expectation of an attack in 
the morning was increased by the signs of the night, and with 
it his caution. Before the wounded were removed from the 
interior of the camp, the front and rear-guards were formed, 
as well as the, right and left columns, and the centre moved 
off in regular order, leading down a ridge to Enotachopco 
creek, at a point where it was clear of reeds, except immedi- 
ately on its margin. A general order had been previously 
issued, pointing out the manner in which the men should be 
formed in the event of an attack on the front, or rear, or on 
the flanks, and the officers had been particularly cautioned to 
halt and form accordingly^ the instant the word should be 
given. 

The front guard had crossed with, part of the flank columns, 
the wounded were over, and the artillery in the acfof entering 
the creek when an alarm-gun was heard in the rear. Having 
chosen the ground, Jackson expected, there to have entirely 
cut off the enemy, by wheelLng the right and left eolumns on 
their pivot, re-crossing the creek above and below, and falling 
in upon their flanks and rear. But, to his astonishment and 
mortification, when the word was given to halt and form, and 
a few guns had been fired, the right and left columns of the 
rear-guard precipitately gave way. Tliis shameful retreat 
was disastrous in the extreme: it drevv along with it the 
greater part of the centre column, leaving not more than 2j 
men, who being formed by colonel Carroll, maintained their 
ground as long as it was possible to maintain it. There was 
then left to repulse the enemy, the few who remained of the 
rear-guard, the artillery company, and captairj Russell's com- 
pany of spies. Their conduct, however, exceeded the highest 
expectations. Lieutenant Armstrong, who commanded the 
artillery company, ia the absence of captain Deadrick, who 
was confined by sickness, ordered them to form, and advanced 
lo the top of the hill, whilst he and a few others dragged up 

T 2 



218 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the six'pounder. Never was more bravery displayed than on 
this occasion. Amidst the most galling; hre from ir.e enemy, 
more than ten times their number, they ascended the hill and 
maintained their position, until their piece was hauled up, 
when, having leveiled it, they poured upon the enemy a fife 
of grape, re-loaded and fired again, charged and repulsed 
them.* 

A number of the troops now crossed the creek, and entered 
into the chase. Caprain Gordon of the spies, who had rushed 
from the front, endeavoured to turn the left flank of the ene- 
my, in which he partially succeeded, and colonel Carroll; 
Colonel Higgins, and captains Elliot and Pipkins, pursued the 
enemy for more than two miles, who fled in consteraation, 
throwing away their packs, and leaving 26 of thejr warriors 
dead on the field.' This last defeat was decisive, the troops 
being no more disturbed in their retreat. 

The loss sustained in these several engagements was 20 
killed and 75 wounded, 4 of whom afterwards died. The 
loss of the enemy could not be accurately ascertained: 189 of 
their warriors were tbund dead; but this must fall considera- 
bly short of the number really killed. Their wounded can only 
be guessed at. 

Meanwhile general Floyd was advancing towards th»3 Indian 
lerrito^ from Chatahouchie river. On the 27th of Jafiuary 
his camp was attacked by a large body of Indians, at the hour 
usually chosen for their operations, viz. about an hour before 
day. They stole upon the centinels, fired upon them, and 
i.hen with great impetuosity rushed upon the line. In 20 



* GeneralJackson, in his official re jiort^ atates some instances 
of fierhafis the most deliberate bravery that have ever been re- 
i-jrded. The individuals mentioned were lieutenant Armstrong, 
Constantine Perkins^ and Craven Jackson^ all of the artillery ^ 
the tivo latter acting as gunners. In the hurry of the mo-ment^ 
VI scfiarating the gun from the limbers^ the rammer and flicker^ 
of the the cannon nvereleft tied to the limber; no sooner ivas this 
discovered^ than Jackson^ amidst the galling fire of the enemy y 
[lulled out the ramrod of his ?nusket and used it as a picker; 
primed with a cartridge^ and fired the camion. Perkins having 
pulled off his bayonet^ used his musket as a rammer^ and drove 
doivn the cartridge; and Jackson^ using his former jilan^ again 
discharged her. Lieutenant Armstrong fellyjust after the first 
fire of the cannon^ exclaiming., as he lay, *^ my brave fellows, 
Hoine of you may fall, but you must save the cannon J' 




HISrOKY OF THE WAR. 219 

minuter the action became general, and the front of both flanks 
were closely pressed, but the gallant conduct of the officers, 
and the firmness of the men, repelled them at every point. As 
soon as it became light enough to distinguish objects, Floyd 
strengthened his right wing to prepare them for a charge, 
and the cavalry yv^ ordered to form in their rear, to act as 
circumstances should dictate. The order for the charge was 
promptly obeyed, and the enemy fled in every direction before 
the bayonet. The order-was then given for the charge of the 
cavaby, who pursued and sabred fifteen of the enemy. 

Th'irty-seven Indians were left dead on the field. From 
the effusion of blood, and number of the war-clubs and head- 
dresses found in various directions, their loss must have been 
considerable. Floyd's loss was 17 killed, and 132 wounded. ^ 

The Creeks being rather inspirited than cast down by their 
last ehcounters witli the whites, more vigorous efforts became 
necessary. General Jackson, therefore, having received rem ' 
forcements of militia from Tennessee, and being joined 
a considerable body of Cherokee and friendly Creek India 
set out on another expedition to the Tallapoosee river. He 
put his army in motion from the Coosee river on the morning 
of the 24th of March, and having a passage of fifty-two and 
a half miles over tlie ridges which divide the waters of the 
two rivers, reached the bend of the Tallapoosee, thixe miles 
beyond where the engagement of the 22d of January took 
place, and at the southern extremity of New Youca, on thtj 
morning of the 27th. 

This bend resembles in its curvature that of a horse-shoe, 
and is thence called by that name among the whites. Nature 
furnishes few situations as eligible for defence; and barbarians 
never rendered one more secure by art, than was this by the 
Creeks. Across the neck of land which leads into it from the 
north-, they had erected a breastwork, of the greatest compact- 
ness and strength, from five to eight feet high, and prepared 
with double rows of port-holes very artfully arranged. The 
figure of this wall manifested no less skilWh the projectors of 
it, than its construction; an army could not approach it with- 
out being exposed to a double and cross fire from the eneniy, 
who lay in perfect security behind it. The area of this penin- 
sula, thus bounded by breastworks, included about 80 or 100 
acres. 

In this bend the warriors from Oakfuskee, Oakchaya, New 
Youca, Hillabees, the Fish Ponds, and Eufauta towns, appriz- 
ed of Jackson's approach, had collected their strength. Their 
exact number was not ascertained; but it wa^ believed to have 



220 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

been about 1000; and relyinp; with the utmost confidence up- 
on their strength, their situation, and the assurances of their 
prophets, they calculated on repulsing Jackson with great 
ease. -.w 

Early on the morning of the 27th, having encamped the pre- 
ceding night at the distance of six miles ivam the bend, Jack- 
son detached general Coffee with the mounted men and near- 
ly the whole of the Indian force, to pass the river at a ford 
about three miles below their encampment; and to surround 
the bend in such a manner that nonc'of them should escape by 
attempting to cross the river. With the remainder cff the 
forces Jackson proceeded alongythe point of land, which led 
to the front of their breastwork; and at half past 10 o'clock, 
planted his artillery on a small eminence, distant from the near- 
est point of the breastwork about 80 yards, and from its farth- 
est about 250; from which a brisk lire was immediately opened 
upon its centre. Whenever the enemy showed themselves 
behind their works, or ventured to approach them, a galling 
fire was opened upon them with musquetry and rifles. 

Meanwhile general Coffee, having crossedbelow, turned up 
the river, bearing away from its cliffs. When within half a 
mile of the village, which stood at the extremity of the penin- 
,sula, the savage jell was raised by the enemy. Expecting an 
immediate attack. Coffee drew up his forces in line of battle, 
in an open hilly woodland, and moved forward in that position. 
\The friendly Indians had been previously ordered to advance 
\secretly and take possession of the bank of the river, and pre- 
vent the enemy from crossing on the approach of Jackson's 
main body in front. Accordingly, the fire of Jackson's cannon 
commencing when Coffee's troops were within about a quar- 
ter of a mile from the river, his Indians immediately rushed 
forward with great impetuosity to its banks. The militia were 
halted, and kept in order of battle, an attack on the rear being 
expected from the Oakfuskee villages, which lay on the river 
about eight miles below. 

The fire of the ^pnnon and small arms becoming now gene- 
ral and heavy in front, animated the Indians on the bank; and 
seeing about 100 of the warriors, and all the squaws and chil- 
dren of the enemy running about among the huts of the vil- 
lage on the opposite shore, they could no longer remain si- 
lent spectators. While some kept up a fir^ across the river 
(here about 120 yards wide), to prevent the enemy's approach 
to the bank, others plunged into the river and swam across foi' 
canoes, that lay on the other side in considerable numbers. — 
Having succeeded in bringing them over, numbers embarked. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 221 

dind landing in the peninsula, advanced into the village, and 
soon drove the enemy from the huts up to the fortification, 
where they pursued and continued to annoy them during the 
whole action. 

This movement of the friendly Indians leaving the river 
bank unguarded, made it necessary that a part of Coffee's line 
should take their place. A company of rangers were accord- 
ingly posted on the bank of the upper part, and a lieutenant 
with 40 men took possession of an island in the lower part of 
the bend. 

Finding that the friendly Indians, notwithstanding the deter- 
mined bravery they displayed, were wholly insufficient to dis- 
lodge the enemy, and that general Coffee had secured the op- 
posite banks of the river, Jackson determined upon taking pos- 
session of the works by storm. Never v/ere men better dis^ 
posed for such an undertaking, than th6se by whom it was to; 
be effected. They had entreated to be led to the charge with 
the most pressing importunity; and received the order whiciv 
was now given, with the strongest demonstration of joy Th6- 
effect was such as this temper of mind foretold. The regu. 
lar troops, led by colonel Williams and major Montgomery'^j 
were presently in possession of the nearer side of the breast*{| 
Work; and the militia accortipanied them in^the charge withl 
a vivacity and firmness which could not have been exc^ededyj 
and have seldom been equalled by troops of any description. 

Having maintained for a few minutes a very obstinate con^ 
test, muzzle to muzzle, through the port-holes, in which ma- 
ny of the enemy's balls were welded to the American bayo- 
nets, they succeeded in gaining possession \)f the opposit6:| 
side of the works. The event could then no longer bedoubt^^ 
ful; the en^my, although many of them fought to the last wit! 
that kind of bravery which desperation inspires, were route^l 
and cut to pieces. The whole margin of the river which sur^ 
rounded the peninsula, was strewed With the slain: 557 were 
found, besides a great number who were thrown in the rivei 
by their surviving friends, and killed in at*^mpting to pass it,| 
by general Coffee's men, stationed on the opposite banks. Not 
more than 20 could have escaped. Among the dead wa$!| 
found their famous prophet Manahoee, shot in the mouth by 
grape-shot, and two other prophets. Two or three women an( 
children were killed by accident. The number of prisoners" 
taken exceeded 300, all women and children excepting three 
or four. 

* The battle may be said to have continued with severity for 
cibout five hours; but the firing and the slaughter continued 



222 HISTORY OF THE -SVAR. 

until it was suspeiKled by the darkness of the night. The 
next morning it was resumed, and 16 of the enemy slain, who 
had concealed themselves under the banks. . 

Jackson's loss was 26 white men killed, and 107 wounded, 
18 Cherokees killed, and 36 wounded, 5 friendly Creeks kill- 
ed, and \\ wounded. 

Thi-s most decisive battle completely broke the spirit as well 
as power of the hostile Creeks, who were never after able to 
make head against the troops of the United States. Jackson 
shortly after completely scoured the Coosee and Tallapoosee 
rivers, and the intervening country. A part of the enemy on 
the latter river, just before his arrival, made their escape across 
it, and fled in consternation towards Pensacola. , Most of the 
inhabitants on the Coosee and the neighbouring country came 
in, and syrrendered unconditionally. Many of the negroes 
taken at Fort Minis \ikiYe delivered up, and one white woman, 
with her two children. 

A detachment of militia from North and South Carolina, 
under the command of colonel Pearson, scoured the country 
below, upon the Alibama, took a number of prisoners, and re- 
ceived the submission of a great number of Creek warriors 
and prophets. On the return of Pearson's expedition, he had 
with him upwards of 600 of the late hostile Creeks, and near- 
ly all-fthe rema^iing negroes that had been captured at Fort 
Mims. 

^ On the 1st of August, the principal chiefs of the hostile 
^JCreeks met general Jackson at the fort called by his name, for 
the purpose of concluding articles of agreement and capitu- 
lation, which were agreed upon the 9th of the same month. 
By this treaty a large and valuable portion of their territory 
was ceded to the United States, as an equivalent for the ex- 
penses incurred in prosecuting the war, and the right of the 
United States to establish military posts ami trading-houses, 
and to open i^oads within their territory, was acknowledged, 
as also the right to the free navigation of all their waters. The 
Creeks also engaged to make an immediate surrender of all 
the persons and property taken from the citizens of the Unit- 
ed States, the friendly part of the Creek nation, the Cherokee, 
Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations, to the respective owners; 
and to surrender all the prophets and instigators of the war, 
whether foreigners or natives, who had not submitted to tlic 
arms of the United States, and become parties to these arti- 
cles, if ever they should be found within the territory of the 
Creeks. It was also stipulated,- that the Creeks should aban-^ 
don all communication, and cease to hold any intercourse witii 



HISTORY (JF THE WAU. 2:^3 

any British or Spanish post, garrison or town; and that they 
should not admit among them any agent or trader, who should 
not derive authority to hold commercial or other intercourse 
with them, by license from the president or authorised agent 
of the United States. The United States engaged to guaran- 
tee the reminder of their territory, and to restore all their pri- 
soners; and, in consideration of the nation being reduced to 
extreme want, and not having at present the means of sub- 
sistence, the United States engaged, from motives of human- 
ity, to continue to furnish them gratuitously with the neces- 
saries, of life, until the crops of corn could be considered com- 
petent to yield the nation a supply; and to establish trading 
houses, to enable the nation by industry and economy to pro- 
cure clothing. 

Thus ended the Creek war, after a prodigious slaughter of 
those brave, misguided men, and the unconditional submis- 
sion of the remainder, excepting a few who took refuge in^ 
Florida. Nearly the whole of the Creek towns were dej 
stroyed. 

But hardly was the Indian wa^ at an end, before new trpu* 
bles sprang up in this quarter, and general Jackson was force( 
to encounter a much more f<^'midable enemy. After conclucb* 
ing the treaty with the Creeks, Jackson moved his head quar* 
ters to Mobile, where, on the 27th of Augusc, he received in^| 
formation by express, from Pensacola, that three British ves- 
sels had arrived there on the 25th, which, on the following day 
had disembarked an immense quantity of arms, ammunition, 
munitions of war, and provisions, and marched into thcJ Span- 
ish fort between two and three hundred troops. He was like- 
wise informed that thirteen sail of the line, with a large num- 
ber of transpor;^, bringing 10,000 troops, were daily expected. 

On the receipt of this information, Jackson immediately dis- 
patched an express to the governor of Tennessee, at Nashville, 
requesting that the whole of the quota of the militia of that 
state should be organized, equipped, and brought into the 
field, without delay, and his adjutant-general, then in Tennes- 
see, was instructed to make the necessary arrangements for 
immediately provisioning and bringing the troops to head- 
quarters. 

The three vessels which had arrived at Pensacola, joined by 
another, soon after sailed from that port for Mobile, and on the 
15th of September appeared off Fort Bowyer. The town of 
Mobile, where general Jackson had his head-quarters, is situ- 
ated on the west side of the Mobile river, at its entrance into 
the bay of the same name. Mobile bay is about 30 miles long, 



224 HISTORY Q¥ THE WAR. 

and of considerable breadth; but its entrance is only five mile 
broad, and is completely commanded by Fort Bowyer, which 
is situated at the extreme point on the east side of the bay.— 
The fort was occupied by a small garrison, commanded by 
major Lawrence, of the 2d infantry. 

The British squadron, consisting of two ships and two brigs, 
appeared in sight about noon of the 15th, standing directly for 
the fort. At 4, in the afternoon, the battery was opened upon 
them; the firing was immediately returned from all the vessels. 
A force of liO marines, commanded by colonel Nicholls, 200 
Creek Indians, headed by captain Woodbine, of the British 
navy, and about 20 artillerists, had been previously landed in 
the rear of the fort, and opened a fire upon it from a twelve- 
pounder and a howitzer, but they did no execution, and were 
soon silenced by a few shot. The action continued without in- 
termission on either side for nearly three hours, when three of 
the vessels were compelled to retire. The commodore's ship, 
which mounted 22 thirty-two-pound carronades, having an- 
chored nearest the fort, had her cable cut by the shot, and was 
so much disabled that she drifted on shore, within 600 yards of 
the battery; when the other vessels being out of reach, such a 
tremendous fire was opened upojj^ her, that she was set on fire 
and abandoned by such of her crew as survived. Out of a crew 
of-* 170 men, the commander and 20 men only escaped. On 
board of the other ship, 85 were killed and wounded; one of 
the brigs aleo was very considerably damaged; but her loss 
was not ascertained. The effective force in the fort was about 
120 itien; their loss was only four killed and five wounded. — 
During the hottest part of the action the flag staff being shot 
away, the flag was immediately regained under a heavy fiie of 
grape and cannister, hoisted on a sponge staff, and planted on 
the parapet. The land-forces retreated by land to Pensacola, 
after having re-embarked their pieces. 

A short time previous to this attack, a proclamation was is- 
sued by Edward Nicholls, commanding his Brita.nnic majesty's 
forces in the Floridas, and dated head-quarters, Pensacola, ad- 
dressed to the inhabitants of Louisiana, Kentucky, and Ten- 
nessee. In this address the natives of Louisiana are called 
upon to assist the British forces in liberating their paternal soil 
from a fruitless imbecile government; to abolish the Ameri- 
can usurpation, and put the lawful owners of the soil in pos- 
session. The inhabitants of Kentucky and Tennessee are tpid 
that they have too long borne with grievous impositions; that 
the brunt of the war has fallen on their brave sons; and they 
are intreated to be imposed on no more, but either to range 



IIISTORY OT THE W*AK^ 4225 

tliemsclves under the standard of their forefathers, of observe 
a strict neutrality. If they complied with either of these of- 
fers, the address assured them, that whatever provisions they 
sent down should be paid for in dollars, and the safety of the 
persons bnnging it, as well as the free navigation of the Mis- 
sissippi, guaranteed. 

The proclamation then calls to the view of the " men of Ken* 
tucky the conduct of those factions which hurried them into 
this cruel, unjust, and unnatural war, at a time when Great 
Britain was straining every nerve in defence of her own and 
the liberties of the world; when she was expending millions 
of her treasure in endeavouring to pull down one of the most 
formidable and dangerous tyrants that ever disgraced the 
form of man. When groaning Europe was in her last gasp, 
when Britons alone sliowed an undaunted front, basely did 
these assassins endeavour to stab her from the rear; she has 
turned on them, renovated from the bloody but successful strug- 
gle. Europe is happy and free, and she now hastens justly 
to avenge the unprovoked insult. Shew them," continued 
Nicholls, " that you are not cqjlectively unjust — leave that 
contemptible few to shift for themselves; let those slaves of 
the tyrant send an embassy to Elba, and implore his aid; but 
let every honest, upright American spurn them with merited 
contempt. After the experience of 21 years, can you any 
longer support those brawlers of liberty, who call it freedom, 
when themselves are no more free than their impostors? Be 
no longer their dupes, accept my oifers, and all that is pro- 
mised you in the proclamation, I guarantee to you on the sa- 
cred word of a British officer." 

A greater degree of ignorance of the nature of the people 
addressed, was ^Derhaps never displayed, than was manifested 
in this proclamation. Nicholls himself was enabled to take a 
pretty favourable view of its reception a few days after it was 
issued, as he headed the land forces employed against Fort 
Bowyer. 

Previous to the attack upon Mobile, Nicholls had held out 
the most seducing offers to induce a band of lawless men, who 
had formed an establishment on the island of Barrataria, to 
enter into the British service in the operations planned against 
Lower Louisiana. But although these men were acting in 
the most lawless manner, and though they were actually pro- 
scribed by the American government, they would not consent 
to act the part of traitors. Instead of accepting the British 
offers, they procrastinated their answer, and immediatelv dis- 
patched the intelligence to New Orleans. 



226 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

The Bcirratarians principally consisted of the officers and 
crews of French privateers, who, on the capture of Giiada- 
loupe, the last of the French West-India islands, had repaired 
to Carthagena, and accepted commissions from the new gov- 
ernment which had been established there. For the conveni- 
ence of disposing of their prizes, these men resorted to Barra- 
taria, and formed establishments in the island of Grand Terre, 
and other places along the coast of Louisiana to the west of the 
jMississippi, whence, it is said, they preyed indiscriminately 
upon the commerce of all nations, not excepting even that of 
the United States, in whose dominions they had thus unwar- 
rantably settled themselves. The chief intercourse of the 
Barratarians was with New Orleans, almost all their prize 
goods being smuggled into that port. 

In the year 1813, this lawless colony excited the attention 
of the government of Louisiana, and a company was ordered 
out to break up the establishment. But this small force proved 
quite ineffectual: the whole party were surprised and captured 
before they reached the settlements of this resolute set of men. 
The naval force, however, bf ing considerably strengthened in 
the summer of 1814, a new expedition was fitted out. On the 
llth of September, commodore Patterson left New Orleans 
with a detachment of 70 of the 44th regiment of infantry, 
commanded by colonel Ross, and being joined by the schooner 
Caroline at Placquemine, and the gun-boats at the Balize, on 
the morning of the 1 6th made the island of Barrataria, and 
discovered a number of vessels in the harbour, some of which 
showed Carthagenian colours. As soon as the squadron was 
perceived, the Barratarians formed their vessels, ten in. num- 
ber, into a line of battle near the entrance of the harbour; and 
Patterson also formed his vessels into a line of battle, consist- 
ing of six gun-boats, a tender, and a launch; the schooner Ca- 
roline drawing too much water to cross the bar. On the ap- 
proach of the squadron, however, the Barratarians abandoned 
their vessels, and took to flight in all directions in their small 
boats, having previously fired two of their best schooners. — 
The launch, with two gun-barges and the small boats, were 
immediately sent in pursuit, and all the vessels in the harbour 
were taken possession of, and the establishment on shore com- 
pletely destroyed. 

The unprecedented conduct of the governor of Pensacola, 
in harbouring and aiding the British and their Indian allies, 
and in allowing them to fit out expeditions against the United 
States from that port, had been forcibly remonstrated against 
by general Jackson, but hitherto without effect. Having been 



JIISTOllY OF THE WAR. 227 

reinforced by about 2000 Tennessee militia, which had marched 
to Mobile through the Indian country, Jackson, therefore, ad- 
vanced towards Pensacola to demand redress. He reached 
the neighbourhood of that post on the atternoon of the 6th of 
November, and immediately sent a flag to communicate the 
object of his visit to the governor; but it was forced to return, 
being fired on from the batteries. Jackson then reconnoitered 
the fort, and finding it defended by both English and Spanish 
troops, determined to storm the town,- and accordingly made 
the necessary arrangements for carrying his deterniinution into 
effect the next day. 

The troops were put in motion for the attack early on the 
Tth. Being encamped to the west of the town, Jackson calcu- 
lated that the attack would be expected from that quarter. To 
cherish this idea, part of the mounted men were sent to show 
themselves on the west, while the remainder of the troops 
passed in the rear of the fort, undiscovered, to the east of the 
town. When at the distance of a mile, the town appeared in 
full view. The troops, principally militia, with a few regu- 
lars, and some Choctaw Indians, advanced with the most un- 
daunted courage, although a strong fort appeared ready to as- 
sail them, on the right, seven British armed vessels on the left, 
and strong block-houses and batteries of cannon in front. On 
entering the town, a battery of two cannon w?.s opened on t!.*- 
centre column, composed of tlie regulars, with ball aiul grujiv:, 
and a shower of musqueiry from the houses and gardens. The 
battery was immediately stormed, and the musquetry v,ns 
soon silenced by the steady and v/cll-directed fire of the regu- 
lars. 

The governor now made his appearance with a flag, and 
begged for mercy, oflTering to surrender the town and fort un- 
conditionally. Mercy was granted, and protection given to 
the citizens and their property, although the ofticer command- 
ing the fort refused to give it up, and held it till near mid- 
night, when he evacuated it with his troops. The British 
moved down to the Barrancas, a strong fort commanding the 
harbour, and, finding that Jackson had gained possession of 
the town, next morning spiked and dismounted the cannon, 
and blew up the fort, just as the American troops were pre- 
paring to march and storm tlie place. 

The British then withdrew to their shipping, and general 
Jackson, having accomplished his object, evacuated the town, 
and returned to the American dominions. 

The dangers impending over New Orleans, from the threat- 
ened expedition of the British, nqw rendered the presence of 



'^28 HISTORY. OP THE WAH. 

general Jackson highly necessary at that city. He arrived 
there with iiis troops on the 2d of December, and immediate 
measures of defence were adopted, by embodying the militia, 
repairing the forts on the river, Sec. 

A few days after Jackson's arrival, the British fleet made 
their appearance in the bay of St. Louis, and on the 12th, the 
fleet appeared in such strength off Ship island, as to induce 
lieutenant Jones, who commanded the American flotilla of 
gun-boats, to retire higher up the lake, to take a position to 
defend the passes to New Orleans. On the 13th, the Ameri- 
can schooner Seahorse, which had been sent by the commo- 
dore that morning to the Bay of St. Louis, to assist in the re- 
moval of some public stores, was attacked by three of the 
enemy's barges. These were driven off', but being reinforced 
by four others, the schooner v/as blov/u up by her crew, and 
the store-house set on fire. On the following day, the Ame- 
rican flotilla, while becalmed, was attacked by 42 heavy 
launches and gun-barges, manned with 1000 men and officers, 
and after a vigorous resistance, for upwards of an hour, 
against this overwhelming force, the whole flotilla was cap- 
tured by the enemy. 

The news of the arrival of the British squadron in these 
waters, reached New Orleans on the 1 2th of December, and 
in a day or two after, martial law was proclaimed in the city, 
ar.d the militia called out en masf^e. Large appropriations 
v.ere made by the legislature of Louisiana for the erection of 
batteries, and granting bounties to seamen to enlist in the ser- 
\ice; an embargo v/as laid for three days in order to stop the 
departure of those individuals; and a requisition was made by 
general Jackson of negroes to work on the fortifications, and 
all those found in the streets were impressed for that purpose, 
as well as all kinds of drays and carts. Four thousand Ten- 
nessee militia arrived by water on the 21st, and Jackson was 
further reinforced by the Barratarians, to whom an amnesty 
was granted by the general and the governor of Louisiana, on 
condition of their joining in the defence of the counti>y. 

The loss of the gun-boats having given the enemy command 
of lake Borgne, he was enabled to choose his point of attack. 
It became, therefore, an object of importance to obstruct the 
lumierous bayous and canals leading from that lake to the 
highlands on the Mississippi. This important service was 
committed to major-general Villere, commanding the district 
between the river and the lakes, wlio, being a native of the 
country, was presumed to be best acquainted with all these 
passes. Unfortunately, however, a picket which the general 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



221-^ 



had established at the mouth of the bayou Bienvenu, and 
which, notwithstanding general Jackson's orders, had been 
left unobstructed, was completely surprised, and the enemy 
penetrated through a canal leading to his farm, about two 
leagues below the city, and succeeded in cutting off a com- 
pany of militia stationed there. This intelligence was com- 
municated to Jackson about 12 o'clock on the 23d. His force 
at this time consisted of parts of the 7th and 44th regmients, 
not exceeding 600 together, the city militia, a part of general 
Coffee's brigade of mounted gun-men, and the detached mili- 
tia from the western division of Tennessee, under the com- 
mand of major-general Carroll. These two last corps were 
stationed four miles above the city. Apprehending a double 
attack by the way of Chef Menteur, general Carroll's force, 
and the militia of the city, were left posted on the Gentilly road, 
and at 5 o'clock, P. M. Jackson marched to meet the enemy, 
whom he was resolved to attack in his first position, with 
major Hind's dragoons, general Coffee's brigade, parts of the 
7th and 44th regiments, the uniformed companies of militia, 
under the command of major Planche, 200 men of colour, 
chiefly from St. Domingo; and a detachment of artillery, un- 
der the direction of colonel M'Rea, with 2 six-pounders, un- 
der the command of lieutenant Spots, not exceeding in 'all 
1500 men. 

Jackson arrived near the enemy's encampment about 7, and 
immediately made his dispositions for the attack. The enemy's 
forces, amounting at that time on land to about 3000, extended 
half a mile on the river, and in the rear nearly to the wood. 
General Coffee was ordered to turn their right, while, with 
the residue of the force, Jackson attacked his strongest posi' 
tion on the left near the river. Commodore Patterson, having 
dropped down the river in the schooner Caroline, was direct- 
ed to open a fire upon their camp, which he executed about 
half after 7. This being the signal of attack, general Coffee's 
men, with their usual impetuosity, rushed on the enemy's 
right and entered their camp, while Jackson's troops advanced 
with equal ardour. 

Unfortunately, a thick fog, which arose about eight o^clock, 
caused some confusion among the different corps. Fearing 
the consequences, under this circumstance, of the further pro- 
secution of a night attack with troops then acting together 
for the first time, Jackson contented himself with lying on the 
field that night; and at four in the morning assumed a stronger 
position about two miles nearer to the city. 

In this action the American loss was 24 killed, 1 15 wound- 



'^.SO HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

cd, and 74 missing; the British loss amounted to 46 killed. 
)67 wounded, and 64 missing. 

The country between New-Orleans and the sea is one ex- 
tensive swamp excepting the immediate banks of the Missis- 
sippi. These banks are generally about a quarter of a mile 
wide, and being higher than the country behind, are dry, ex- 
cept in time of inundation, when the whole country would 
form one vast flood, were it not for the artificial banks or le- 
vees which have been erected for the preservation of the 
farms on this narrow, but fertile strip of land. The city of 
New-Orleans itself is protected from the river in the same 
manner. At intervals there are bayous or outlets which pierce 
these banks; the water which flows through them, however, 
never returns to the bed of the river, but finds its way to the 
Gulf of Mexico by other channels through the swamps. 

From this description of the country, it will be perceived 
that New -Orleans is extremely susceptible of defence, and 
tliat over a certain proportion, numbers are nearly unavailmg. 
The position taken up by general Jackson occupied both banks 
of the river. On the left it was simply a straight line of a 
front of about 1000 yards, with a parapet, the right resting 
on the river, and the left on a wood, which communicated with 
the swamp, and the passage of which had been rendered im- 
practicable for troops. This line was strengthened by flank 
works, and had a ditch with about four feet of water. On the 
right bank was a heavy battery of 15 guns, which enfiladed the 
whole front of the position on the left bank. 

The British having erected a battery in the night of the 26th, 
shucceeded on the following day, in blowing up the schooner 
Caroline, which lay b&calmed a short distance above in th^e 
Mississippi. Her cre#, however, had previously made theis 
escape. Emboldened by this event, the enemy marched his 
whole force on the 28th lap the levee, in the hope of driving 
the Americans from their position, and with this view opened 
upon them, at the distance of about half a mile, his bombs and 
rockets. He was repulsed, however, with the loss of 16 kill- 
ed, and 38 wounded. The American loss was T killed, and 
8 v/ounded. 

Another attempt was made upon the American lines on the 
1st of January. The enemy having the preceding night erect- 
ed a battery near the works, in the morning opened a heavy 
fire from it, and made two bold attempts to force and tura the 
left wing, in both of which they were repulsed; and in the 
course of the night they retreated to their lines, leaving aU 
tbeir guns on the battery., which they had previously spiked. 



hTlSlOllY OF THE^\rAtfe 231 

aud a considerable quantity of ammunition, working-tools, and 
their dead unburied. Their loss on this occasion was 32 killed< 
44 wounded, and 2 missing-; that of the Americans, 1 1 killed 
and 23, wounded. 

GeneralJackson was reinforced by 2500 Kentucky militia 
on the 4th, and on the 6th the British were joined by general 
Lambert, at the head of the second part of the expedition. 
Serious preparations were now made for storming the Ameri- 
can works. 

On the night of the 7th, with infinite labour, the British 
succeeded in getting their boats into the Mississippi, by wid- 
ening and deepening the channel of the bayou, from which 
they had about two weeks before effected their disembarka- 
tion. Though these operations were not unperceived, it was 
not in Jackson's powder to impede them by a general attack: 
the nature of the troops under his command, mostly militia, 
rendering it too hazardous to attempt extensive offensive move- 
ments in an open country, against a numerous and well- dis- 
ciplined army. Although his forces, as to number, had bee« 
increased bj the arrival of the Kentucky division, his strength 
had received very little addition; a small portion only of that 
detachment being provided with arms. Compelled thus to 
wait the attack of the enemy, Jackson, however, took every 
measure to repel it when it should be made, and to defeat the 
object in view. 

Early in the morning of the 8th, the enemy, after throwing^ 
a heavy shower of bombs and Congreve rockets, advanced their 
columns an the right and left, to storm the entrenchments on 
the left bank of the Mississippi; throwing over a considerable 
force in his boats at the same tim^tto the right bank. The 
entrenchments on the right bank, \9me occupied by general 
Morgan, with the New-Orleans contingent, the Louisiana mi- 
litia, and a strong detachment of the Kentucky troops: general 
Jackson, with the Tennessee and the remainder of the Ken- 
tucky niiiiiia, occupied the works on the left bank. 

The columns of the enemy advanced in good order towards 
Jackson's entrenchments, the men shouldering their muskets, 
and all carrying facines, and some with ladders. The batte- 
ries now opened an incessant fire on the British columns, 
which continued to advance in pretty good order, until, in a 
few minutes, the musquetryof the militia joining their fire with 
that of the artillery, began to make an impression on them, 
which soon threw them into confusion. At this time the noise 
of the continued rolling fire resmbled the concussion of tr^- 
Hiendous peals of thunder. For some time the British offi- 



232 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

cers succeeded in animating the courage of their troops, al- 
though every discharge from the batteries opened the columns, 
mowing down whole files, which were almost instantaneously 
replaced by new troops coming up close after the first; but 
these also shared the same fate, until at last, after 25 minutes 
continued firing, through which a few platoons advanced to 
the edge of the ditch, the columns broke and retreated in con- 
fusion. 

A second attack was received in the same manner. The 
British were forced to retreat, with an immense loss. But 
vain was the attempt of the officers to bring them up a third 
time. The soldiers were insensible to every thing but danger, 
and saw nothing but death, which had struck so many of their 
comrades. 

Near the commencement of the attack, general Packenham, 
the British commander-in-chief, lost his life at the head of his 
troops, and soon after, generals Keane and Gibbs were carried 
off the field dangerously wounded. A great many other offi- 
cers of rank fell, and the plain between the front line of the 
British and the American works, a distance of 400 yards, was 
literally covered with the enemy's dead and wounded. At 
this time general Jackson's loss was only seven killed and six 
wounded. 

The entire destruction of the British army had now been in- 
evitable, had not an unfortunate occurrance at this moment 
taken place on the right bank of the river. The troops which 
had landed there were hardy enough to advance against the 
works, and at the very moment when their entire discomfiture 
was looked for with confidence, the Kentucky militia inglori- 
ously fled, drawing afteiMhem, by their example, the remain- 
der of the forces. CoWmodore Patterson, who commanded 
the batteries, was of course forced to abandon them, after spik- 
ing his guns. 

This unfortunate rout totally changed the aspect of aifairs. 
The enemy now occupied a position from which he could an- 
noy Jackson without hazard, and by means of which he might 
have been enabled to defeat, in a great measure, the effects of 
the success of the Americans on the other side of the river. It 
became, therefore, an object of the first consequence to dis- 
lodge him as soon as possible. For this object all the means 
which Jackson could with any safety use, were immediately 
put in preparation. But so great had been the loss of the Brit- 
ish on the left bank, that they were not able to spare a suffi- 
cient number of troops to hold the position which they had 
gained on th© right bank, without jeopardizing the safety of the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 233 

whole. The troops were, therefore, withdrawn, and Jackson 
immediately regained the lost position. 

The spirit of atrocity and vengeance, which marked the 
conduct of the British during the campaign, was manifested 
£ven in this battle, although they suffered so signal a defeat.— 
After their final repulse on the left bank, numbers of the Ame- 
rican troops, prompted merely by sentiments of humanity, 
went, of their own accord, in front of their lines, to assist the 
wounded British, to give them drink, and to carry them (as 
:tbey did several of them on their backs) within the lines. — 
While they were tlms employed, they were actually fired up- 
on, and several killed. Yet the others, regardless of the dan- 
ger, persevered in their laudable purpose. This instance of 
baseness may have proceeded from individuals; nor would it in 
common cases be presumed, that the men v/ere ordered to 
fire by their officers: but if the fact be, as has been repeated- 
ly asserted without contradiction, that the watchword of the 
day was the significant words " beauty and booty^^ no charge 
would seem too atrocious for belief against the British com- 
manders. 

The total loss of the Americans in this action, on both sides 
of the river, was 13 killed, 39 wounded, and 19 missing. The 
British acknowledge a loss of 293 killed, 1267 wounded, and 
484 missing. About 100 stand of arms of different descrip- 
tions were taken by the Americans. 

The British having retired to their old positfon, continued 
to occupy it till the night of the 18th, although constantly an- 
noyed by the American artillery on both sides of the river. At 
midnight they precipitately decamped, and returned to their 
boats, leaving behind, under medical Attendance, 80 wounded, 
including two officers. Fourteen pieces of heavy artillery, and 
a quantity of shot, were also abandoned, and a great deal of 
powder, which, however, was previously destroyed. But, such 
was the situation of the ground which the enemy abandoned, 
and of that through which he retired, protected by canals, re- 
doubts, entrenchments, and swamps on his right, and the river 
pn his left, that Jackson could not, without encountering a risk 
which true policy did not seem to require or to authorise, at- 
tempt to annoy him much on his retreat. He took only eight 
prisoners. 

Commodore Patterson, however, dispatched five boats and 
a gig, manned and armed with 50 men, under the command of 
Mr. Thomas Shields, purser on the New-Orleans station, to 
annoy the retreat of the British. On the night of the 19th, a 
boat lying at anchor was captured by surprise^ without resist- 



2j>4 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ance, containing 40 dragoons and 14 seamen. The prisoners 
exceeding the detachment in numbers, Shields returned, and 
placing them in charge of the army, again set out in pursuit, 
in the hope of intercepting some of the enemy's boats about 
day-light, but without success. 

On the morning of the 21st, Shields once more pushed ofF 
among ihe transports of the enemy, and captured several, but 
unfortunately, owing to a strong contrary wind, he was not 
able to bring them off; some of them were therefore given 
up to the parolled prisoners, and the remainder destroyed. — 
Seventy-eight prisoners were brought in by this intrepid little 
band. 

Meantime the British fleet having proceeded up the Missis- 
sippi, bombarded Fort St. Philip for eight or nine days; but 
not being able to make any impression, they commenced their 
retreat about the same time that the army above embarked in 
their boats, viz. on the 18th of January. The bombarding ves- 
sels were stationed most of the time out of the reach of the 
guns of the fort. Major Overton, the commander, lost only 
two killed and seven wounded. 

We have never seen any official statement of the forces em- 
ployed in this expedition; but the most probable calculation 
makes the force landed below New Orleans, about 15,000 viz. 
11,000 land-troops, and 4000 sailors and marines. So confi- 
dent were the British of success, that collectors of the customs 
and other civil officers attended the expedition, several of 
whom were among the prisoners taken by Shields, on the re- 
treat of the army. 

As soon as the British troops were embarked on board their 
shipping, the squadron made for Mobile bay, and completely 
invested Fort Bowyer both by land and water. A large force 
was landed on the 18th of February, who made regular ap- 
proaches, keeping up a constant firing, until the 11th, when, 
the approaches being within pistol-shot of the fort, colonel 
Lawrence was summoned to surrender. Resistance being un- 
availing against the overwhelming force of the enemy, articles 
of capitulation were agreed to, surrendering the fort to the 
British, the garrison, consisting of 366 men,,including officers, 
being considered prisoners of var. On the 10th, and 11th,, ge- 
neral Winchester, v '^o coromanded at Mobile, threw a detach- 
ment across the bav tor the relief of Fort Bowyer, but too late to 
effect any thing, except the capture of one of the British bar- 
ges, with 17 men. 

While these operations were carried on in the Gulph of 
Mexico, a considerable force was stationed off the coast of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 255 

Soiuh Carolina and Georgia, menacing Charleston and Savan- 
nah. They took possession of Cumberland Island, as a mili- 
tary station, but nothing of consequence was effected on the 
main, excepting the capture of St. Mary's by a detachment 
under admiral Cockburn, who again returned to Cumberland 
island, after they effected their purpose by the destruction of 
the forts in tlws neighbourhood. 

Having thus reviewed every important military event, we 
shall now turn our attention to the ocean, where our cruizers 
continued to range with unabated vigour, and where, to use the 
querulous language of the British journalists, " if they tight, 
they are sure to conquer; if they fly, they are sure to escape.'* 

It will be recollected, that in October, 1812, the Constitu- 
tion and Hornet sailed from Boston on a cruize, which proved 
memorable by the destruction of the Java by the former, and 
that of the Peacock by the latter. The Essex, captain Porter, 
sailed from the Delaware about the same time, under orders 
to join commodore Bainbridge, who commanded the squadron. 
Porter left the capes on the 28th of October, and steered for 
the Cape de Verd islands, the first appointed rendezvous, 
crossing the track of the homeward-bound British Indiamen, 
and the outward-bound West Indiamen. Without meeting 
any enemy's vessels, he reached St. Jago, and put into port 
Praya for supplies. On the 29th of November he left the Cape 
de Verds for the Brazil coast. A few days after, a British 
packet was captured, with about §55,000 in specie, which be- 
ing taken out, the vessel was dispatched with a prize-master to 
the United States. 

The island of Fernando de Noronha, the second place of ren- 
dezvous, was reached on the 14th of December. Here Porter 
received a communication from the commodore, addressed to 
him under the fictitious title of sir James Lucas Yeo, stating 
that he would find him off Cape Frio, without entering the. 
port, therefore, the Essex stood to the southward. Near Rio 
de Janeiro a British schooner was captured, and after taking 
the prisoners out, it was discovered, that about an hour before 
their capture, they had parted with a small convoy of British 
vessels under charge of the Juniper, a three-masted schooner. 
All sail, therefore, was immediately made in pursuit, but every 
effort to reach them proved abortive. During the pursuit in- 
telligence was received, from different vessels, first of the 
blockade of the Bonne Citoycnne by the Constitution and Hor- 
net, and afterwards of the capture of an American vessel by the 
Montague 74, which captain Porter strongly suspected to be 
the Hornet, with the addition that the Montague had gone in 
pursuit of the frigate. 



235 ' HISTORY OF THE WAH. 

This intelligence removed all expectations of the Essex be- 
ing enabled to join commodore Bainbridge; and it became 
absolutely necessary, therefore, for Porter to depart from the 
letter of his instructions. He accordingly determined to pur- 
sue that course which seemed best calculated to injure the 
enemy, and to enable the cruize to be prolonged. This 
could only be done by going into a friendly poit where sup- 
plies could be obtained, without the danger of blockade; and 
the most suitable place for that purpose seemed to be the port 
of Conception, on the coast of Chili. The season, it being now 
the end of January, was, to be sure, far advanced for doubling 
Cape Horn; the stock of provisions also was short, and the 
ship in other respects not well supplied with stores for so 
long a cruize. But there appeared to Porter no other choice 
left; except capture, starvation, or blockade. This course 
seemed to him the more justifiable, also, as it accorded with 
the views of the secretary of the navy, as well as those of the 
commodore. Before the declaration of war. Porter had laid 
before the secretaiy a plan of annoying the enemy's commerce 
in the Pacific, which had been approved of; and prior to this 
cruize, commodore Bainbridge having requested his opinion 
as to the best mode of annoying the enemy, Porter had laid 
the same plan before him. This had also been approved of 
by the commodore, who signified his intention to pursue it, 
provided supplies of provisions could be procured. Although 
there was considerable responsibility attached to this proceed- 
ing, and the undertaking was greater than had yet been en- 
gaged in by any single ship in similar pursuits, yet the season 
admitting of no delay. Porter, immediately on getting to sea, 
stood to the southward, and the crew were put on short allow- 
ance of provisions, in order to husband them for the long voy- 
age on which they were now embarked. 

Cape Horn was doubled about the middle of February, 
amidst tremendous storms; and the Essex surmounted all the 
dangers of hurricanes, fogs, and breakers, by the intrepidity 
of her commander, and the distinguished coolness and activity 
of her crew, to which the uncommon degree of health they 
enjoyed, from the judicious arrangements of captain Porter, 
not a little contributed. In the latitude of about 40° south, 
pleasant moderate weather succeeded to the incessant storms 
and severe cold experienced in the passage around the stormy 
cape, and on the 6th of March the Essex came to an anchor 
off an uninhabited island called Mocha, in the latitude of about 
38° 15' S. about eight leagues distant from the coast of Chili. 
At Mocha, a considerable supply of fresh provisions was pro- 



HISrOllY OF THE WAK. 237 

Cured by shooling the wild hpgs and horses which abound in 
that island. The tlesh of ihe latter was found to be the prefer- 
able food, that of the hogs being tough. ^ 

Porter again steering his course along ihe iron-bound coast 
of Chili, on the 15th of March put into the port of Valparaiso, 
where, contrary to his expectations, he was received with the 
utmost attention and hospitality. This arose from the change 
which had lately taken place here, the Chilians having assumed 
the government, though* without absolutely declaring them- 
selves independent of old Spain. The arrival of an Americaji 
frigate was considered a most happy event, and was celebrat- 
ed in their capital, St. Jago, by illumination and the ringing 
of bells. It was generally believed in Chili, that Porter had 
brought proposals for a'friendly alliance, and assurances of as- 
sistance in their struggle for independence; and this construe- ; 
tion he thought it politic rather to encourage, as it suited his; 
views of readily obtaining supplies. 

The Essex remained a week at Valparaiso. During that*! 
time two Spanish vessels had sailed for Lima, which rendered^ 
his speedy departure necessary, as they would certainly com- 
nvunicate the intelligence of his arrival to the enemy, and as it 
was Porter's intention to visit that coast next, for, from all.ac- 
counts, the coast of Peru, and from there to the Gallapagos 
islands, wasj.he favourite fishing-ground of the British whal- 
ers. Porter accordingly run down the coast of Chili and Pe- 
ru, and thence procaeded to the Gallapagos island. In this 
track he fell in with the Peruvian corsair, which he disarntfcd, 
and among the Gallapagos captured three British whalers. 

The Essex remained six mo^nths at the Gallapagos islands, 
during M^hich, however, one trip was' made toTumbez, on the 
coast of Peru, where a number of prisoners were la,nded on pa- 
role. During the cruize among those islands, the whole of 
the valuable British-whale vessels in the Pacific were cap- 
tured, excepting one which had been laid up at«Coquimbo for 
the want of guns, shef having been disarmed by the govern- 
-ment of Chili, in consequence of the active part she had taken 
in favour of the Peruvians, who adhered to Ferdinand. The 
value' of these prizes to the enemy was estimated at two mil- 
lions and a half of dollars. By tins cruire, too, the whole of 
the American ^hale-ships were rescued from certain capture, 
and protected in those seas until the proper season for their 
return to the United States. The captured vessels were twelve 
in number, carrying,, in the wliolc, 107 guns, and 302 men. — 
Two of the prizes were guven up to the prisoners, three were 
I -sent to Valparaiso, where they were laid up, and three were 



238 Hisi-ORY OF THE WAR. 

sent to the United States. Lieutenant Downes convoyed the 
prizes sent to Valparaiso, in another prize, which had been 
fitted up as a cruizer, under the name of the Essex Junior. 
He rejoined captain Porter at the Gallapagos on the 30th of 
September, and brought letters from Valparaiso, containing 
information that a squadron under the command of commo- 
dore James Hillyar, consisting of the frigate Phoebe, of 36 
guns, the Raccoon and Cherub sloops of war, and a store-ship 
of 20 guns, had sailed from England in pursuit of the Essex. 
That the Raccoon and Cherub had been seeking her for some 
time on the coast'of Brazil, and had then proceeded in quest of 
her to the Pacific. 

The Essex had now been nearly a year at sea, almost with- 
out intermission, and, as may be supposed, required consider- 
able repairs to put her in a proper state to meet the enemy- 
Captain Porter, therefore, adetermined to steer for the Wash- 
ington Islands for that purpose, and, on the 2d of October, the 
Essex, in company with the Essex Junior, Greenwich, Serin- 
gapatam. New Zealander, and the Sir Andrew Hammond, final- 
ly left the Gallapagos, or the Enchanted Isles, as some have 
called them, from the difficulty of clearing them, owing to the 
currents and baffling winds. These islands are described by 
captain Porter as being all of volcanic origin, and totally de- 
void of running streams. There are some few springs, but 
the water is quickly absorbed by the loose and thirsty lava and 
..inders, of which these islands are principally composed. — 
When Porter visited them, their only inhabitants were tor- 
;oises, guanas, lazards, aud snakes, but as he lost a number of 
goats, which were put on shore to graze, the probability is that 
they will soon be stocked by th*es« useful animals. The turtles 
are in such abundance as to furnish plentiful supplies of fresh 
provision for ships stopping there. 

The Marquesas, of which the Washington groupe forms a 
part, are situated between the latitude of 6° and 11° S. and 
136° and 142° W. from London. Captain Porter, with his 
squadron, arived at the island called Nooaheevah by the na- • 
tives, on which Porter bestowed the name of Madison's Island, 
in honour of the American president. Here a fine bay was dis- 
covered, which appeared to offer every advantage that could 
be desired. A friendly intercourse was soon opened with the 
natives dwelling near the beach; but their operations on shore 
were threatened to be disturbed by the natives of a neighbour- 
iup* valley, who were at war with those among whom Porter 
had landed. On the capture of one of their strong holds, how- 
ever, by a party of sailors, who accompanied the friendly na- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2S9 

lives, the hostile Indians gladly accepted of the peace offercd- 
by Porter, on the condition of establishing a friendly commerce 
with him. The Indians now erected a little village for the 
reception of the articles taken out of the Essex, in order to 
her repairs, and the greatest harmony prevailed between the 
Americans and most of the tribes of the island, who brought 
plentiful supplies of provisions in exchange for pieces of iron, 
fish-hooks, and whale's teeth. 

But the conduct of the Typees, one of the most numerous 
and warlike tribes in the island, again threatened to put a spee- 
dy stop to the useful intercourse established with the natives. 
They continually insulted the friendly Indians, calling them 
cowards for submitting to the white men, to whom they appli- 
ed the most degrading epithets. In reply to a messenger whom 
Porter sent to their valley, to induce ihem to remain at peace, 
and to require an exchange of presents as a proof of their 
friendly disposition, they desired to know why they should 
seek his friendship, and why they should bring him hogs and 
fruit? If he was strong enough, they said, they knew he would 
come and take them: his not doing so was an acknowledgment 
of his weakness. Porter was extremely averse from engaging 
in a useless warfare with these people; but he conceived that 
necessity compelled him to take some steps to punish them, 
in order to secure the friendship of the other Indians, who 
made no secret of their belief that his backwardness to engage 
in war arose solely from cowardice. A distant day was there- 
fore appointed for an expedition against the Typees, and in the 
mean wltile Porter practised eyery means to inspire them with 
peaceable vievvs, by making them acquainted with the deadly 
effects of fire arms. But they felt too conscious of their num- 
bers, and of the natural strength of their valley, surrounded by 
mountains impenetrable, as they believed, to white men, to 
listen to peaceable overtures; and in this disposition they were 
confirmed by the event of the first attempt made to enter their 
country. Thirty-five men, with captain Porter at their head, 
landed in their valley, but from the nature of the country, it 
was found impossible to make any impression on them with 
this small force; and after penetrating through marshes and 
thickets, through which they had to fight their way, the pro- 
gress of the party was finally stopped by a strong wall, seven 
feet high, flanked by impenetrable thickets. 

The situation of the. party was at this moment peculiarly ha- 
zardous. The surrounding hills were covered by those Indi- 
ans, who at present professed friendship. Great numbers also 
had landed with them, but they had taken little or no part 



240 HISTOJIY OF THB WAH. 

in the contest, and the appearance of a defeat, it was suppps- 
ed, would bring on an attack from the tribe that had been be- 
fore defeated, if not by the whole force of the island. Are- 
treat was therefore feigned, in crrder to draw the Indians from 
their fort, and in an instant they rushed upon the party with 
hideous yells. , The first and second which advanced were 
killed, and those who atlempted to carry them off were wound- 
ed; on Seeing which, they abandoned their dead, and precipi- 
tately retreated to their fort. Porter was now suffered to re- 
treat nearly unmolested. On arriving at the beach a messen- 
ger was again dispatched to offer peace, but they only answer- 
ed by a challenge ^o renew the contest. 

Porter now determined to embark, as the Indians had all de- 
scended the hiirs, and the defeat of the white men by the Ty- 
pees formed the universal topic of conversation. The pun- 
ishment of the hostile natives being deemed, however^ more 
important than ever, a large b9dy was next day marched to 
their valley across the mountains, and notwithstanding the ex- 
treme difRculties of the route, penetrated into their country, 
and completely drove them out of the valley. We regret to 
say, that the whole of their villages were burned and laid 
waste, as, though the practice is usual in Indian warfare, we 
cannot perceive that the same necessity existed that can be 
xirged for this measure in contests with the Indians in ouro\\ii 
territory. 

The Typees were now glad to accept of the same terms of 
pe»ce which they had before scoincd; and every tribe on the 
island courted the friendship of the whites. 

Previous to the Typee war, a fort had been erected in the 
valley, where Porter first landed, by permission of the inhabi- 
tants, and the flag of the United Stal*cs was hoisted, and the 
island formally taken possession of in the name of the Ameri- 
can government, by the title of Madison's Island, under a sa- 
lute of 17 guns. The object of the ceremony being explained 
to the inhabitants, they expressed much pleasures at the idea of 
being adopted Mei/ickees, as t.bey called the Americans. ' 

The Essex 'being now completely repaired, and provisions 
for four months laid in, she sailed for Valparaiso on the I2tb 
ofDecember, in company with the Essex Junior. The three 
prizes were secured under the guns of the fort, and left Tn 
charge of lieutei^nt Gamble of tl^e Marines, and 21 men, with^ 
orders to proceed to Valparaiso after a certain period. 

'Shortly after captain Porter reached Valparaiso, commodore 
Hillyar arrived therein the Phoebe frigate, accompanied by 
the Cherub sloop of war. These ships, having been sent out 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 24! 

expressly to seek for the Essex, wore in prime order and 
equipment, with picked crews, and hoisted flags bearing the 
motto " God and country, British sailors' best rights; traitors 
offend both.** This was in opposition to Porter's motto of 
" Free trade and sailors' rights," and the latter part of it sug- 
gested, doubtless, by error industriously cherished, that the 
American crews were chiefly composed of English seamen. — • 
In reply to this motto, Porter hoisted at his mizen, " God, our 
country, and liberty: tyrants offend them." On entering the 
harbour, the Phoebe fell foul of the Essex in such a manner as 
to lay her at the mercy of captain Porter; out of respect to the 
neutrality of the port, however, he did not take advantage of 
her exposed situation. This forbearance was afterwards ac- 
knowledged by commodore Hillyar, and he passed his word of 
honour to observe like conduct while they remained in port. 
They continued, therefore, whiJie in harbour and on shore, in 
the mutual exchange of courtesies and kind offices, that should 
characterize the private intercourse between civilized and 
generous enemies; and the crews of the respective ships often 
mingled together, and passed nautical jokes and pleasantries 
from one to the other. 

On getting their provisions on board, the Phoebe and Cherub 
went off the port, where they cruized for six weeks, rigorously 
blockading captain Porter. Their united force amounted to 
81 guns and -500 men, in addition to which they took on board 
the crew of an English letter of marque lying in port. The force 
of the Essex consisted of but 46 guns, all of which, excepting 
six long twelves, were 32 pound carronades, only serviceable 
in close fighting. Her crew, having been much reduced by 
the manning of prizes, amounted to but 255 men. The Essex 
Junior being only intended as a store-ship, mounted ten 18 
pound carronades, and ten short sixes, with a complement oi 
only 60 men. 

This vast superiority of force on the part of the eneniy pre- 
vented all chance of encounter, on any thing like equal terms,, 
unless by express covenant between the commanders. Captain 
Porter, therefore, endeavoured repeatedly to provoke a chal- 
lenge (the inferiority of his frigate to the Phoebe not justifying 
him in making the challenge himself), but without effect. He 
tried frequently also to bring the Phoebe into single action; but 
this commodore Hillyar warily avoided, and always kept his 
ships so close together as to frustrate captain Porter's attempts. 
Finding it impossible to bring the enemy to equal combat, and 
fearing the arrival of additional force, which he uuderstood. 
was on the way, Porter determined to put to sea the fii*st op- 



242 HISTORY OV THE WAli, 

portuiiity that should present. A rendezvous was accordingiy 
opened for the Essex Junior, and having ascertained by re- 
peated trials that the Essex was a superior sailer to either oi 
the blockading ships, it was agreed that she should let the 
enemy chase her off, thereby giving the Essex Junior an op- 
portunity of escaping. 

On the next day, the 28th of March, 1814, the wind caitfe 
on to blow fresh from the southward, and the Essex parted 
her larboard cable, and dragged her starboard anchor directly 
out'to sea. Not a moment was lost in getting sail on the ship; 
but perceiving that the enemy was close in with the- point form- 
ing the west side of the bay> and that there was a possibility 
of passing to windward, and escaping to sea by superior sail- 
ing, captain Porter resolved to hazard the attempt. He ac- 
cordingly took in his top gallant sails, and braced up for the 
purpose, but, most unfortunately, on rounding the point, a heavy 
squall strucJ!? the ship, and carried a^vay her main top-mast, 
precipitating the men who were aloft into the sea, who were 
drowned^. Both ships now gave chase, and the crippled state 
of his ship left Porter no alternative but to endeavour to regain 
the port. Finding it impossible to get back to the' con>mon 
anchorage, he ran close into a small bay, about three quarters 
of a mile to leeward of the battery, on the east of the harbour, 
and let go his anchor within pistol shot of the shore. Suppos- 
ing the enemy would, as formerly, respect the neutrality of the 
place, he cojnsidered himself secure^ aad thought only of re- 
pairing the damages he had sustained. The wary and m.enac- 
ing" approach of the hostile ships,' however, displaying their 
motto flags, and having jacks at ail their masts' heads, soon 
showed him the real danger of his situation. With all possi- 
ble dispatch, therefore, he got his ship ready for action, and 
endeavoured to get- a spring on hh cable, bu't had not succeed- 
ed, when, at 54 minutes past 3 P. JSl. the enemy commenced 
an attack. 

i\t first the Phoebe placed herself under his stern, and the 
Cherub on his starboard bow; but the latter soon finding herself 
exposed to a hot fire, bore up and ran under his stern also, 
where both ships kept up a severe and raking fire. Porter 
succeeded three different times in getting springs on his ca- 
bles, for the purpose of bringing his broadside to bear on the 
enemy, but they were as often shot away by the excessive firo 
to which he was exposed. He was obliged, therefore, to rely 
for defence against this tremendous attack merely on three 
long twe'^ve-pounders, which he had run out of the stern-ports; 
»?i«i whic4a were' worked "Vfith such bravery and skill, as in half 



MI3TOKY Olf- THE WAR *4.^. 

ail hour to do great injury to both the enemy's ships, and in- 
duce them to hiuil oft' and repair damages. It was evidently 
the intention of commodore iiiilyar to risk nothbig from the 
during courage of his antagonist, but to take the Essex at a^ 
eheap a rate as possible. All his manoeuvres were deliberate 
and wary; he saw his antagonist completely at his mercy, and 
pri'epared to cut him up in the safest and surest manner. In 
the mean time the situation of the Essex was galling and pro- 
v'>king in the extreme; crip-pled and shattered, v^ith many 
killed and wounded, she lay awaiting the convenic: ce of tfie 
enemy, to renew the scene of slaughter, with scarce a hope of 
escape or revenge. Her brave crew, however, in place of 
being disheartened, were aroused to desperation, and by hoist- 
ing ensigns in their rigging, and jacks in different parts of 
the ship, evinced their defiance and determination to hold out 
to the last. 

The enemy having repaired his dtTmages, now placed hito- 
self with both his shifi§, on the starboard quarter of the Es- 
sex, out of reach of her carronades, and where her stern-guns 
could not be brought to bear. Here he kept up a most de- 
structive fire, which it was not in Porter's power to return; 
the latter, therefore, saw no hope of injuring him without get- 
ting under way and becoming the assailant. From the man- 
gled state of his rigging, he could set no other than the flying 
jib; this he caused to be hoisted, cut his cable, and run down 
on both ships, with an intention of laying the Phoebe on board. 
For a short time he was enabled to close with the enemy, 
and the firing on "both sides was tremendous. The decks of 
the Essex were strewed with dead, and her cockpit filled with 
wounded; she had been seveial times on fire, and was in fact 
a perfect wreck; still a feeble hope sprung up that she might 
be saved, in consequence of the Cherub being compelled to 
haul off by her crippled state; she did not return to close ac- 
lion again, but kept i^ a distant firing with her long guns." 
The disabled state of the Essex, however, did not permit her 
to take advantage of this circumstance; for want of sail she 
was unable to keep at close quarters with the Phoebe, who, 
edging off chose the distance which best suited her long guns, 
and kept up a tremendous fire, which made dreadful havoc 
among tfie crew of the E^sex. Many of her guns were reur 
dercd useless, and many had their whole crews destroyed: they 
were manned from those that were disabled, and one^unin 
particular v/as three times manned: fifteen men were slain at 
it in the course of the action, though the captain of it escaped 
with only a slight wound. Captain Porter now gave up ail 



244 IIISTOAY OF THE WAR. 

hopes of closing with the enemy, but finding the wind favour- 
able, determined to run his ship on shore, land the crew, and 
destroy her. He had approached within musket shot of the 
shore, and had every prospect of succeeding, when, in an in- 
stant, the wind shifted from the land, and drove her down upon 
the Phoebe, exposing her again to a dreadful raking fire. The 
ship was now totally unmanageable; yet as her head was to- 
ward the enemy, and he to leeward, captain Porter again per- 
ceived a faint hope of boarding.* At this moment lieutenant 
Downes of the Essex Junior came on board to receive orders, 
expecting that captain Porter would soon be a prisoner. His 
sei'vices could be of no avail in the deplorable state of the Es- 
sex, and finding from the enemy's putting his helm up, that 
the last attempt at boarding would not sitcceed, Downes was 
directed to return to his own ship, to be prepared for defend- 
ing and destroying her in case of attack. He took with him 
several of the wounded, leaving three of his boat's crew on 
board to make room for them. The Cherub kept up a hot 
fire on him during his return. 

The slaughter on board the Essex now became horrible, 
the enemy continuing to rake her, while she was unable to 
bring a gun to bear in return. Still her commander, with an 
obstinacy that bordered on desperation, persisted in the une- 
qual and almost hopeless conflict. Every expedient thafa fer- 
tile and inventive mind could suggest was resorted to, in the 
forlorn hope that they might yet be enabled by some lucky 
chance to escape from the grasp of the foe. A halser was 
bent to the sheet-anchor, and the anchor cut from the bows, to 
bring the ship's head round. This succeeded; the broadside 
of the Essex was again brought to bear; and as the enemy 
was much crippled, and unable to hold his own, Porter thought 
she might drift out of gun-shot before she discovered that he 
had anchored. The halser, however, unfortunately parted, 
and with it failed the last lingering hope of the Essex. The 
ship had taken fire several times during the action, but at this 
moment her situation was awful. She was on fire both forward 
and aft; the flames were bursting up each hatchv/ay; a large 
quantity of powder below exploded, and word was given that 
the fire was near the magazine. Thus surrounded by horrors, 
.without any chance of saving the ship, Porter turned his at- 
tention to rescuing as many of his brave companions as 'possi- 
ble. Finding his distance from the shore did not exceed three 
quarters of a mile, he hoped many would be able to save-them- 
selves should the ship blow up. His boats had been cut to 
pieces by the enemy's shot, but he advised such as.could swim 



UlLSTpKY OF THE WAR. *^4^ 

!Lo jump overboard aiul make for shore. Some reached it, some 
were taken by the enemy, and some perished in the attempt; 
but most of this loyal and gallant crew preferred sharing the 
fate of their ship and their commander. 

Those who remrdned on board now endeavoured to extin*- 
guish tho, flames, and having succeeded went again to the 
giins, and kept up a firing for a few minutes; but the crew had 
by this time become so weakened, that all further resistance 
was in vain. Captain Porter summoned a consultation of the 
officers of divisions,'but was surprised to find only acting lieu- 
tenant Stephen Decatur M'Knight remaining; of the others, 
some had been killed, others knocked overboard, and others 
<;arried below disabled by severe wounds. The accounts from 
every part of the sfiip were deplorable in the extreme; re- 
presenting her in the most shattered and crippled condition, in 
imminent danger of sinking, and so crowded with the wound- 
ed,' that even the birth-deck could contain no more, and many 
were killed while under the surgeon's hands. In the meaa 
while the enemy, in consequence of the smoothness of the wa- 
ter and his secure distance, was enabled to keep up a delibe* 
rale and constant fire, aiming with coolness and certainty, as if 
-firing at a target, ^nd hitting the hull at every shot. At length, 
•utterly despairing of saving the ship, captain P^^rter was com^ 
pelletf, at 20 minute^ past 6 P. M. to give the painful order 
to strike the colours. It is probable that the enemy did not 
perceive that the ship had surrendered, for he continued firingj 
-several men were killed and wounded in different parts of ih 
ship, and captain Porter, thinking he intended to show no 
quarter, was about to rehoist his flag and to fight until he 
sunk, when the enemy desisted his attack ten minutes after 
the surrender. 

The loss on board the Essex was 58 killed, 39 wounded se- 
verely, 27 slightly, and 31 missing. The loss on board the 
British vessels was 5 killed and 10 wounded. . 

Thousands of the inhabitants of Valparaiso were 'spectators 
of the battle, covering the neighbouring heights: for it was 
fought so near the shore, that some of the shot even struck 
among the citizens, who, in the eagerness of their curiosity, 
had ventured down upon the beach. Touched by the forlorn 
situation of the Essex, and filled with admiration at the un- 
flagging; spirit and persevering bravery of her commander and 
crew, a generous anxiety rdin throughout the multitude for 
their feite: bursts of delight arose, when, by any vicissitude of 
battle, or prompt expedient, a chance seemed to turn up in 
their favour; and the eager spectators were seen to wring their 



2'46 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

hands, and uttered groans of sympathy, when the transieiit 
Hope was defeated, and the gallant little frigate once more be^ - 
came an unresisting object of deliberate slaughter. ^ 

Though, from the distance and positions which the enetn^ 
chose, this battle was chiefly fought on Porter's part by sljf 
twelve-pounders only, yet great damage was don© to the as- 
sailing ships. Their masts and yards were badly crippled^ 
their hulls much cut up; the Phoebe, especially, received 18 
twelve pound shot below her water line, some three feet un*- 
der water. It w^s with some difficulty that the Phoebe and 
the Essex could be kept afloat until they anchored the next 
morning in the port of Valparaiso. 

Captain/ Porter and his crew were parqjied, and permitted to 
return to the United States in the Essex Junior, her armament 
being previously taken out. On arriving off the port of New 
York, they were overhauled by the Saturn razee, the authori- 
ty of commodore Hillyar to grant a passport was questioned, 
and the Essex Junior detainpd. Captain Porter then told the 
boarding-officer that he gave up his parole, and considered 
himself a prisoner of war, and as such should use all means of 
escape. In consequence of this threat, the Essex Junior was 
ordered to remain all night under the lee of the Saturn, but 
the next morning captain Porter put off in his boat, though 
thirty miles from shore^ and, notwithstanding he was pursued 
by the Saturn, effected his escape, and landed safely on Long 
Island. The Essex Junior was, However, released, and arrived 
shortly after at New York. 

The small party left with lieutenant Gamble in charge of 
the prizes at Madison's island, met with a series of misfor- 
tunes, which eventuated in the loss of all the vessels, and the 
breaking up of the establishment. Hardly had the Essex got 
clear of the islands, before a hostile disposition was discovered 
in the natives; and in a few days they became so insolent, that 
Gamble conceived it to be absolutely necessary to land his men 
to recover by force of arms the articles they had stolen from 
his encampment, and to deter them from putting their threats 
into execution. Fortunately this was accomplished without 
the firing of a musket, and a perfect amity was kept up for se- 
veral months afterwards. 

On the 9th of May, while Gamble was preparing to depart 
for Valparaiso, an attack was made on his ship by the natives. 
His numbers had been previously reduced by desertion, antl 
by a mutiny, which ended in the escape of the mutineers in one 
of the prizes. After suffering a severe loss in the scuffie with 
1.he„ native^ a breeze fortunately sprung up, which enabled the 



flfSTORY OF THE WAll. 2ij 

party to leave the bay. It being now reduced to eight soul^, 
not more than three of whom were effective, it was impracti- 
cable to reach Valparaiso, which lay to windward. Gamble 
therefore steered for the Sandwich islands, where he was cap- 
tured by the Cherub sloop of war. 

The cruize of the Essex in the Pacific ocean will ever form 
one of the most memorable events in the history of our coun- 
try; and posterity will hesitate whether most to admire the 
wisdom which devised, or the energy which carried it into 
execution. With a single ship, ill appointed for such a cruize, 
Porter boldly braved the terrors of the tempestuous cape, and 
by his successful intrepidity cut off the whole of the valuable 
commerce of the enemy in those waters, where Great Bri- 
tain never dreamt that an American frigate would dare to make 
her appearance. For twelve months Porter lorded it over the 
Pacific, at the head of a little squadron of his own formation, 
without any expense to his country, his ships being fitted out 
and furnishd with provisions and stores solely from the fruits 
of his enterprise. Numerous ships were sent to the Pacific in 
pursuit of him, others were ordered to cruize in the China seas, 
off New Zealand, Timor, and New Holland, and a frigate sent 
to the river La Plata. These vessels, it is said, were ordered 
to effect his destruction without respect to the neutrality of 
any port in which he might have taken shelter, an order which 
was faithfully executed by commodore Hillyar, notwithstand- 
ing the honourable example set him by captain Porter. The 
gallant defence of the Essex adds another laurel to the wreath 
which encircles our seamen, and, as was officially acknowledg- 
ed by commodore Hillyar, " did honour to her brave defenders, 
and most fully evinced the courage of captain Porter, and those 
under his command." 

Meanwhile the remainder of our little navy continued to 
make every sea the theatre of their exploits. No more fri- 
gates, it is true were added to the list of our naval triumphs, 
for, taught by sad experience, strict orders were issued by the 
British admiralty to their frigates, to avoid encounters with 
those of the United States, and indeed they were seldom allow- 
ed to put to sea alone. Six sloops of war, however, were cap- 
tured; the Epervier by the Peacock, the Reindeer and Avon 
by the Wasp, the Penguin by the Hornet, and the Cyane and 
Levant by the Constitution frigate. The loss of the American 
navy at sea was two sloops of war and the President frigate, 
each of them by an overwhelming force. 

The blockade of the American coast, which nominally ex- 
tended from Rhode Island to the Mississippi, was on the 25th 



248 HISTORY OF TliEWAK. 

of April, 1814, extended to'^every port of the United States. — 
But neither our public nor^ur private cruizers were to be de- 
terred from pi't)ceeding to sea by those paper blockades. An 
astonishing havoc was committed upon the English commerce, 
not only in the high seas, but on ijie coast of Great Britain^ 
in her channels, and even in the very mouth« of iier harbours. 
Such was the uneasiness and alarm created, by the numerous 
captures by the Americans, that for a while insurance could 
not be effected at all to distant ports, and even from Eng- 
land to Ireland, a few hours sail, a premium of Iwe guineas 
per cent, was demanded. " 

The admiralty were besieged with memorials from the mer- 
cantile cities, and from the insu-ance officers: but they acknow- 
ledged the remedy to be beyond^ their power. In answer to 
numerous remonstrances on this subject, ii was officially stated 
by Mr. Croker, that an ample force had been under the orders 
of the admirals on the different stations, ^nd that during the 
time when the American depredations were stated to have 
taken place in St. George's channel, not fewer then three fri- 
gates and fourteen sloops of war were actually at sea for its 
protection. 

The achievments of the American privateprs have in many 
instances rivalled Uios^ of our public vessels; and we regret 
that our limits have hitherto prevented us from paying them 
the attention they/l^scrve. It would be improper, however, 
to pass ovorr the gallant defence of the General Armstrong, by 
captain Reid and his brave crew, in the port of Fayal. This ac- 
tion forms bflt one.out of the many instances in which the Bri- 
tish commanders have set at nought the rights of neutrality, 
by the capture of American vessels in friendly ports; but in 
none has it been effected at such an expense of blood to the 
violators. 

On the the 26th of September, about dusk, while the Gener- 
al Armstrong lay at anchor in Fayal harbour, the British brig 
Carnfrtion hove in sight within gun-shot, and no sooner did she 
understand the character of the privateer, then she hauled 
close in and let go her anchor within pistol shot of her. At the 
fiame time the Piantagenet, 74, and the frigate Rota hove in 
sight, and after an interchange of signals between them and the 
Carnation, the latter threw out all her boats, and appeared to 
be making unusual exertion. The moon being near its full 
enabled ckptain Reid to observe these movements, which de- 
termined him to haul in nearer to the^shore. Accordingly after 
rlciiring for action, he got untler way, and began to sweep in. 
The moment this was perceived by the Carnation, she cut her 



HISTORl OF THE WAR. 



249 



c^ble, made sail, and dispatched four boats in pursuit, well 
. manned and armed. On approachint^ the Armstrong, the boats 
were repeatedly hailed by captain Reid, but they made no an- 
swer, and only pulled with the greater speed. A fire was 
therefore opened upon them, which was immediately return- 
ed; but the boats soon cried for quarter, and liauled off. They 
then fled to their ships, and prepared for a second and more 
formidable attack: the privateer, in the mean time, was an- 
chored within half cable's length of the shore, and within half 
pistol shot of the castle. 

At 9 o'clock the Carnation was observed towing in a fleet o'f 
boats from the 74 and frigate. They soon after left l>cr, and 
took their station in three divisions, under cover of a small reef 
of rocks, within about musket shot of the General Armstrong;, 
where they continued to manoeuvre for some time, the Carna- 
tion keeping under way to act with the boats, in case the pri- 
vateer should attempt to escape. At length, about midnight, 
the boats were observed in motion, coming on in one direct 
line, in close order, to the number of 12 or 14, manned; as was 
afterwards learnt, by 400 men. A severe conflict ensued, 
which lasted near forty-minutes, and terminated in the total 
defeat and partial destruction of the boats, with an immense 
slaughter on the part of the British. 

During these attacks the shores were liiicd with inhabitants, 
who, from the brightness of the moon, had a favourable viev/ 
of the scene. The governor, with most of the first people of 
the place, stood by, a^pd saw the whole aff'air. After the se- 
cond attack a note was sent from the governor to captain Lloyd, 
of the Plantagenet, who commanded the British squadron, beg- 
ging him to desist from further hostilities; but Lloyd answer- 
ed, that he was now determined to have the privateer, at the 
risk of knocking down the whole town; and that if tiie gover- 
nor suff'ered the Americans to injure the privateerin any man- 
ner, he should consider the place an enemy's port, and treat it" 
accordingly. Information to this effect being conveyed to cap- 
tain Reid by the American consul, the wounded and de.irl were 
carried on shore, and the crew ordered to save their effects as 
fast as possible. 

About day -light the Carnation stood close in to the Arm- 
strong, and commenced a heavy fire; but after several brotul- 
sides, she hauled off", having received a shot in her hull, her 
rigging much cut, and her fore-top-mast wounded. She soon 
after came in again, however, and anchored close to the pri- 
vateer, when captain Reid ordered his crew to scuttle aijd 
abandon the vessel, to prevent the enemy from getting her oH', 



250 HISTORY OF IHE WAR. 

She was soon afterwards boarded by the enemy's boats, and 
set fire to. 

The loss of the Americans in tliis affair was only two killed 
and seven wounded; the British had 120 killed and 130 wound- 
ed. Several houses in the town were destroyed by the ene- 
my's shot, and some of the inhabitants wounded. Two Brit- 
ish sloops of war arrived a few days after, which were immedi- 
ately taken into requisition to carry the wounded to England. ^ 

In this situation stood affairs when a treaty of peace was 
agreed upon by the commissioners of the two nations at Ghent. 
After a tedious procrastination on the part of the British gov- 
ernment, the negociation was commenced by the British com- 
missioners bringing forward demands which could only have 
been acceded to by a degraded and conquered people, one of 
which was declared to be a si?ie qua nofij and that, after find- 
ing that the only effect produced by these demands was the 
union of the whole American people to resist them, they were' 
all withdrawn, and a treaty agreed on, simply placing the po- 
ihical rights and territories of the two nations on the same 
footing as previous to the war. It was signed at Ghent on the 
-4th of Decem.ber, and soon after ratified by the prince re- 
.^;cnt. It received its final ratification by the president on the 
i'aih of February, 1815. 

This treaty was generally satisfactory to the American peo- 
?.tle, for, though it left the great questions of impressment and 
illegal blockades unsettled, it was believed, that the respect 
\vhich the victories of the navy had inspired towards the Ame- 
rican Hag, would prevent a repetition of those outrages which 
preceded the war. The mighty changes which had taken 
place in Europe were believed to have the same tendency, by 
removing many of the pretexts on which these outrages weie 
founded. 

But although the peace with America was also a general 
subject of joy in Great Britain, much dissatisfaction was ex- 
cited on the publication ot the terms. The treaty formed, in- 
deed, a deplorable contrast with the high-sounding threats and 
boasts of the ministry but a few months before; and after the 
demands which had been brought forward, it was conceived 
ihat it consum.mated the humiliation of the British ministry.* 



* The public stocks exfiericnced a considerable defiression on 
Ihe fiublication of the treaty^ it being conceived^ that nothing 
but the firobability of a new 7var in Eurofie could have occa- 
Aioned the disgraceful compromisc-i as the treaty ii^as called by 
the government papers. 



HISTOUY OF Tlii: V.'AR. 251 

On ail address beiiig moved in the house of v^ommons congra- 
luh-itinij the piince rey;ein on the re-establishment of peace, an 
amendment was moved, which, though it was not carried, shows 
in a striking manner che sentiments of a great part of the na- 
tion. Tiie'amcndment proposed that the following should be 
substituted for the original address. 

" To assure his royal highness that we contemplate with 
great satisfaction the restoration of a state of peace and amity 
between his majesty and the United States of North America; 
but we should deem ourselves highly deficient in the discharge 
of our duty towards his majesty and his people, were we not 
to express to his royal highness our deepest regret, that a mea- 
sure so necessary to the welfare and prosperity of his majes- 
ty's dominions, was not sooner accomplished: that in review- 
ing the terms of the treaty which his royal highness has been 
graciously pleased to lay before us, we are at a loss to discover 
what were the causes which so long retarded its conclusion; 
that, in our ophiion, the honour of his majesty's crown, and 
the interest of his people, both required that as soon as the 
peace of Europe had been established by the treaty signed at 
Paris, on the 8th day of May, in the last year, the speediest and 
most eftectual measures should have been adopted for the ne- 
gociationofa treaty of peace with the United States of North 
America; that the complete and entire cessation of hostilities 
in Europe bad removed or suspended the operation of the 
causes, which had occasioned or accompanied the late war be- 
tween his majesty and the United States;)that the elevated and 
commanding station which the united kingdom then held 
amongst the nations of the w^orld would have rendered the mani- 
festation of a sincere wish for the restoration of the blessings 
of peace wdth the United States highly honourable to his ma- 
jesty's counsels; and would have afforded the government and 
people of America the most unequivocal proofs of the gene- 
losity and magnanimity of the British nation; of a shicere de- 
sire to bury in lasting oblivioii the recollection of that hostili- 
ty which then unhappily subsisted, and of its anxious wish for 
the re-establishment of peace upon terms honourable and ad- 
vantageous to both countries, and likely to insure its own per- 
manency by the justice and liberality of its conditions; that we 
are the more deeply afflicted by the long and (as we deem it) 
unnecessary delay in the conclusion of peace, when we rellect 
upon the great and incomparable injury his majesty and his 
people have sustained, by the unnecessary and unprofitable 
w^aste of treasure, by tiie loss of so many distinguished and 
licroic officers, and of such numbers of brave, loyal, and expe- 



25i HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

lienccd troops; and we most deeply lament that these calami- 
ties should be aggravated by mortifying reflections, that thr^ 
fame of the British arms may appear to be diminished by t. 
failure of the latest military enterprizes of the war. That 
affords us, however, consolation to iind, that peace is at lens 
i-e-established; and to assure his royal highness, that it is t . 
earnest wish and desire of this house to cultivate and maintu, 
the most cordial and intimate union with the government ai 
people of the -United States. 

" That we rely upon his royal highness' wisdom and go 
ness to cberish and preserve the most friendly relations bv, 
tween them and his majesty's subjects; and we confidently 
trust, that a corresponding disposition in the government and 
the people of the United States, will enable his royal highn&ss 
to continue unimpaired, and undisturbed, the harmony now 
happily restored between them; and that the two freest natio 
in the world may exhibit to mankind the grateful spectacle 
mutual confidence and lasting peace." 

The experience of the war has taught us many useful 1 
sons, which it is to be hoped our statesmen will not suffer . 
pass without profit. We have learnt that a large and eflicic^ 
revenue, not vulnerable from abroad, is esseiitial to its succes 
ful conduct; and that a dependence on loans for the extra ex 
penses of war is fatal and ruinous. 

We have learnt that a navy is not only the best and cheapest, 
but the only effectual defence against the invasion of a coast 
so extensive as that of the United States; th^t a navy is pe-j 
culiarly suited to the genius of our country; and, that, as it 
cannot possibly endanger our republican institutions, its si^',- 
ought to keep pace with our means of supporting it. 

We have also seen the advantages and defects of our miK 
system; and the necessity that exists for more clearly detc 
mining the powers of the general government on this and 
other important questions. It is to be hoped that the presc 
period of unexampled harmony will not be suffered to pr 
unimproved.* 



* By the articles of confederation^ the states apjiointed : 
regimental officers^ the general government the field ancl ga. 
rat officers. Is there amj aolid objections to this plan?- 



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